So the state banned them. Consumer Reporter Marlo Brawer tells us these grey market cigaretes are supposed to be sold overseas. On a store shelf, it's hard to tell some of these were meant to be sold overseas. John Barratt says for years, Smoke shops like the Pottawatomi tribal Store in Shawnee have enjoyed extra profits from buying and selling these less expensive name brand cigarettes. But the store only expects about a 5 percent profit loss.
Some local distributors hope to gain from the new law.
Sullivan Wholesale has been distributing cigarettes for 63 years. The company never thought to import grey market cigarettes even though that decision has hurt business. If a retailer or wholesaler is caught selling grey market cigarettes as of today, they could face fines up to 20-thousand dollars. And, the cigarettes will be seized. This state law preceeds a new Federal law that makes it illegal to import cigarettes meant to be sold overseas.