State Police seize untaxed cigarettes following I-81 traffic stop

On March 31, 2026, members of the New York State Police Troop D Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET), Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit (CTIU), and the United States Border Patrol Smuggling/Targeting Unit (TU) conducted a targeted enforcement detail in Jefferson and Oswego Counties focused on proactive patrols, traffic enforcement, and intelligence-led policing to deter criminal activity.

At approximately 4:40 p.m., State Police observed a gray 2024 Ford F-350 towing an enclosed trailer traveling southbound on Interstate 81 near the Central Square exit. The vehicle failed to comply with New York State’s Move Over Law, and a traffic stop was initiated.

The operator was identified as Fabian M. Hart, age 67, of Bombay, New York.

During the investigation, a United States Border Patrol K9 conducted an exterior scan of the vehicle and trailer and alerted to the presence of contraband. A subsequent search revealed approximately 874,000 untaxed cigarettes contained in multiple cardboard boxes.

Hart was charged with:

• New York State Tax Law § 1814 C2 (Class D Felony)

• New York State Tax Law § 1814 A1 (Class E Felony)

He was processed and transported to the Oswego County Correctional Facility, where he was being held pending arraignment.

The seized cigarettes are estimated to have a street value of $350,000, with an associated tax evasion value of $500,000.

The investigation remains ongoing.

https://troopers.ny.gov/news/state-police-seize-untaxed-cigarettes-following-i-81-traffic-stop