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(56 seconds)
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(OPEN):
WHILE DRIVING THIS "JULY 4TH"-WEEKEND--AND THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER--VACATIONERS MIGHT NOT REALIZE THAT THEY'RE SHARING THE ROAD WITH A GROWING FLEET OF CIGARETTE-SMUGGLERS.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO RICHARD MARIANOS--A RETIRED "A-T-F"-AGENT
WHO'S RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS CRIME, AT "THE-NEW-TOBACCO-ROAD"-DOT-COM...
(MARIANOS):
"IF YOU PASS A LINE OF TRUCKS ON THE HIGHWAY,
THERE'S A REAL CHANCE THAT THE CARGO IN AT LEAST ONE OF THEM IS CONTRABAND-CIGARETTES.
CIGARETTES HAVE BECOME A NEW CURRENCY OF CRIME--AND TOBACCO-SMUGGLING HAS BECOME A SOPHISTICATED CRIMINAL-INDUSTRY THAT ROBS BOTH STATE- AND LOCAL-GOVERNMENTS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, EACH YEAR, IN TAX-REVENUES. HOWEVER, THE REWARD FOR SMUGGLING CIGARETTES VASTLY OUTWEIGHS THE RISKS OF PUNISHMENT.
SOME STATES HAVE PASSED LAWS TO MAKE CIGARETTE-SMUGGLING A FELONY--AND ARE PROVIDING MORE RESOURCES FOR LAW-ENFORCEMENT.
OTHER STATES ARE ALSO LOOKING AT NEW LAWS AND PENALTIES. WE NEED TOUGH LAWS AGAINST
CIGARETTE-SMUGGLING--BECAUSE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T SMOKE, THIS CRIME IMPACTS BOTH YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY."
(CLOSE):
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT "THE-NEW-TOBACCO-ROAD"-DOT-COM.
