USPS Seizes and Destroys 3K Smuggled Cigarette Packages

Apr.10.2023
USPS Seizes and Destroys 3K Smuggled Cigarette Packages
USPS destroyed over 3,000 illegal cigarette packages, totaling about 10,000 cigarettes, since the beginning of 2022.

US Postal Service (USPS) officials have stated that since the beginning of this year, the agency has seized and destroyed over 3,000 foreign smuggled cigarette packages, totaling about 10,000 items. These cigarettes were intended to be shipped to Connecticut, New York and other states.


Connecticut Attorney General William Tong stated that this seizure is a result of a settlement agreement reached in August 2022 between USPS and several states. The agreement requires the postal service to destroy untaxed foreign cigarettes, rather than returning illegally-shipped packages to senders.


On April 6th, Tong announced that since early 2023, 44 out of 3000 cigarette packages originally intended for delivery to Connecticut have been destroyed.


According to Tong, over 3,000 cigarette packages were shipped primarily from China, Israel, and Russia to Connecticut, New York, and other states that have reached a settlement agreement with USPS - including California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Nearly 8,000 packs of cigarettes arrived in the United States through the international postal facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York.


According to the settlement agreement, the USPS is required to seize and destroy illegally mailed cigarette packages, report sender and recipient information to law enforcement agencies, and designate a manager responsible for ensuring compliance with these regulations.


References:


Officials announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has seized and destroyed over 3,000 foreign contraband cigarettes in the state of Connecticut, as well as in other states. This operation was carried out by USPS authorities.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

South Korea’s Cigarette Smoking Rate Falls to 17.9%, E-Cigarette Use Continues to Rise
South Korea’s Cigarette Smoking Rate Falls to 17.9%, E-Cigarette Use Continues to Rise
Data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) showed South Korea’s conventional cigarette smoking rate fell to 17.9% in 2025, while heated tobacco and liquid e-cigarette use continued to rise, particularly among young adults and women.
Jun.01
 BAT Raises Growth Outlook for Smokeless Products as Velo and Vuse Gain Momentum
BAT Raises Growth Outlook for Smokeless Products as Velo and Vuse Gain Momentum
British American Tobacco (BAT) has raised its growth outlook for smokeless products, forecasting “mid-teens” growth for its new category portfolio, including vaping and nicotine pouch products, while global cigarette volumes are expected to decline further.
BAT
Jun.02
Multi-State Coalition Urges F1 to End Nicotine Sponsorships, Citing Zyn and Velo
Multi-State Coalition Urges F1 to End Nicotine Sponsorships, Citing Zyn and Velo
Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez is co-leading a coalition of 19 states and jurisdictions urging the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula 1 to end sponsorships involving tobacco and nicotine products, including nicotine pouch brands such as Zyn and Velo.
News
Jun.09
KT&G Q1 2026 Financial Results: Revenue at $1.156 Billion, E-Cigarettes to Launch Independent Overseas Expansion
KT&G Q1 2026 Financial Results: Revenue at $1.156 Billion, E-Cigarettes to Launch Independent Overseas Expansion
KT&G reports a 27.6% increase in Q1 operating profit, with traditional and new tobacco sectors driving growth.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs Data Show Smokeless Was the Only Growing Major U.S. Nicotine Category
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs Data Show Smokeless Was the Only Growing Major U.S. Nicotine Category
NielsenIQ and Goldman Sachs data show U.S. smokeless nicotine product sales rose more than 8% year over year in the 52 weeks ended May 30, making it the only major nicotine category to record growth.
Market
Jun.23
InterTabac 2026: First conference program highlights now available online
InterTabac 2026: First conference program highlights now available online
With three months to go before the international tobacco and nicotine industry gathers again in Dortmund, InterTabac, together with NUBIZ and InterSupply, is set to bring around 800 exhibitors from across the globe to eleven exhibition halls. The three events will showcase innovation, market trends and industry networking, while the first conference program highlights are now online, offering trade visitors keynotes, panel discussions and masterclasses to support business decision-making.
Events
Jun.22