GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Michigan State Police performed a sting of 264 small businesses like party stores and gas stations for the usual Tobacco Products Tax Act compliance operation it performs yearly.
This year, a few other things were revealed. Such as a marijuana vending machine and bootleg DVD sales.
Here in West Michigan, troopers discovered an establishment who’s owner was selling hundreds of counterfeit name-brand items, such as hats, jackets, shoes, sunglasses, purses jewelry, even colored contacts. The illegal merchandise had a retail value of almost $100,000.
In the statewide sting, the MSP seized $116,750 in illegal tobacco products and $169,550 in illegal non-tobacco property for a combination of $286,300.
