[kcpopps]

"When it comes to smuggling and counterfeit stamps, traditional organized crime is involved, terrorist groups are involved and street gangs are involved," said John Dugan, the ATF's area supervisor for industry operations

And you and your statist friends set up the conditions favorable for these elements to get involved, Mr Dugan.

So what should you do now? Drop the taxes or spend more public money to combat tobacco crimes?

When the government waylays consumers with excessive and unjustified taxation such as this - then it is they who are supporting organized crime and street gangs.

If they didn't know this was going to happen, then they're even bigger fools than I thought.

[jenny65]

So what should you do now? Drop the taxes or spend more public money to combat tobacco crimes?

When the government waylays consumers with excessive and unjustified taxation such as this - then it is they who are supporting organized crime and street gangs.

Excellent points all around. The parallels with the War On Drugs ought to obvious to everyone. We're quickly moving from a government regulated model to a crime-driven one. Which costs more in terms of money and lives?

The drug/tobacco warriors ought to be learning some important lessons from this. But no, they'll just throw more money and resources at it as usual. Dumb f_cks.