Trumbull Man Arrested for Thousands of Untaxed Cigarettes: DRS

TRUMBULL, CT—A Trumbull man was arrested after cash, cigarettes and counterfeit cigarette tax and postage stamps were seized during a search, according to the Department of Revenue Services.

A three month investigation led to the seizure of $53,000, 7,000 packs of cigarettes and 53,000 counterfeit cigarette tax stamps and U.S. postage stamps.

“DRS special agents shut down a lucrative trafficking operation that was a significant distributor of untaxed cigarette and tobacco products in Connecticut," said DRS Commissioner Kevin Sullivan. "This arrest sends a strong message to the sellers of untaxed tobacco products.”

Kalel Easa, 39, was arrested while transferring tobacco products to his vehicle, according to a DRS press release. The seized cigarettes are worth about $50,000.

“The trafficking of cigarettes originating from low-tax states down south to the Northeast is not only an ongoing problem and illegal, it robs Connecticut of needed tax revenue and puts the stores who are doing the right thing at an unfair disadvantage," Sullivan said.

More arrests are expected.

Easa is charged with possession or sale of untaxed cigarettes and tobacco products, and possession of fraudulent tax stamps.