25 Apr 2003

American Samoan customs destroy illegal cigarettes

1:12 pm on 25 April 2003

The Customs Office in American Samoa has destroyed a total of 385 cartons of contraband cigarettes and tobacco products.

The cigarettes were confiscated from two men who allegedly brought them into Pago Pago with the intent to sell them to storeowners.

The assistant chief of customs, Glenn Lefiti, says the two couriers are from Samoa and had been caught trying to smuggle illegal cigarettes into the territory several times before.

No charges have been filed against the two men.

The cigarettes were considered illegal because they didn't display the required US health warnings.