NY busts multi-million dollar 'cigarette smuggling ring'

New York officials say they have busted a multi-million dollar cigarette smuggling ring.

Officials allege that three of the 16 Palestinian immigrants charged had links to known terrorists.

The state's attorney general said investigators had recovered only "a fraction" of the proceeds from sales of more than a million untaxed cartons.

The amount of money involved remains unclear, but records show the suspects deposited at least $55m (£36m).

The scheme cost the state an estimated $80m in tax revenue, said officials in a press conference on Thursday.

The alleged ringleaders, brothers Basel and Samir Ramadan, were arrested on Wednesday in Maryland.

Investigators said they had found $1.5m in cash - some stashed in black plastic bin bags - in the home and car of Basel Ramadan.
'Astounding profits'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22564338