Suspected cigarette bootlegger nabbed on LIE

Suffolk police arrested a man early Tuesday accused of buying untaxed cigarettes with the intent to sell. Police say they pulled over 33-year-old Mahamadou Konate, of the Bronx, for speeding on the

News 12 Staff

Jul 5, 2006, 10:31 PM

Updated 6,683 days ago

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Suffolk police arrested a man early Tuesday accused of buying untaxed cigarettes with the intent to sell.
Police say they pulled over 33-year-old Mahamadou Konate, of the Bronx, for speeding on the Long Island Expressway. According to authorities, roughly 300,000 unstamped cigarettes were found underneath a bed sheet in the back of the van. Investigators believe Konate bought the cigarettes from one of Long Island?s two Indian reservations, either the Poospatuck in Mastic or the Shinnecock in South Hampton.
Cops say the street value of the confiscated cigarettes is $75,000. Konate faces felony charges due to the large quantity in his possession. Police have not said whether or not they will go after the seller of the cigarettes.