A hidden wall discovered during a routine search of a North Lawndale convenience store led to the seizure of nearly 5,000 packs of unlicensed cigarettes Thursday, authorities said.
The suspicions of Cook County Sheriff's police were raised when they entered Tom's Food Mart, 3553 W. Roosevelt Rd., just past noon and saw a man pass through a false wall, according to a release from the sheriff's office.
Sheriff's police say the false wall was hidden behind a bookcase and lead to a storage area where 4,977 packs of cigarettes were discovered without county tax stamps.
At the time of the discovery, sheriff's police and Department of Revenue inspectors were making a "routine" check to make sure cigarettes sold at the store had proper tax stamps, according to the release.
Thursday's discovery is the largest tobacco seizure of its kind to date and resulted in a $128,425 fine for the store's owner, sheriff's police said.
Revenue enforcement officers conduct random inspections to ensure the city collects its due tax, which is $3 per pack of cigarettes, sheriff's police said.
Last year the county collected about $1.3 million in cigarette tax fines.
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:49:53 GMT
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:03 PM EDT2013-05-22 23:03:10 GMT
The Chicago Board of Education made its final decision Wednesday afternoon - to close 48 Chicago Public Schools in June, with one school delayed a year and to save five others.
The Chicago Board of Education made its final decision Wednesday afternoon - to close 48 Chicago Public Schools in June, with one school delayed a year and to save five others.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:45:07 GMT
Illinois public schools that teach sex education will have to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases instead of a curriculum focused on abstinence.
Illinois public schools that teach sex education will have to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases instead of a curriculum focused on abstinence.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:50 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:50:46 GMT
The attorney for an 87-year-old woman who accuses Donald Trump of cheating her in a skyscraper condo deal told Chicago jurors on Wednesday that the "Apprentice" star lied on the witness stand.
Jurors have withdrawn to begin deliberations about whether Donald Trump cheated an 87-year-old who claims the "Apprentice" star cheated her in property deal.
(Cook County Sheriff's Office)
