Arkansas authorities find more than 27,000 packs of illegal cigarettes in second-largest seizure during traffic stop, Georgia man arrested

LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. – Arkansas state officials said Monday that a Georgia man was arrested after authorities seized more than $243,000 worth of illegal cigarettes during a traffic stop in Lonoke County.

According to state officials, agents with Arkansas Tobacco Control and the Central Arkansas Drug Task seized 27,940 packs of illegal cigarettes and $4,142 in cash during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Lonoke on April 10.

Officials with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said that this marks the second-largest seizure in Tobacco Control’s history since October 2023 near Carlisle.

State officials said that the driver, 35-year-old Emile Bangoura of Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested and taken to the Lonoke County Detention Facility. He is facing a charge of possession of untaxed tobacco.

Arkansas Regulatory Enforcement Division Administrator Trent Minner expressed that his division will continue to combat illegal cigarette trafficking. DFA Secretary Jim Hudson backed Minner, saying that the department is proud to work with other state agencies to seize illegal cigarettes.

“DFA is proud of the work of our Regulatory Enforcement team, which consists of fully certified law enforcement officers,” Hudson said. “Through strong relationships with other law enforcement agencies, the Regulatory Enforcement Team has seized illegal cigarettes worth more than $550,000 in a matter of months.”

Tobacco Control is a part of the DFA’s Regulatory Team. It was established in 1997 to regulate the sale of tobacco in Arkansas.

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