[antiatheist]

It's multiple lebanese family/gangs (Haddara family and others) vs biker gangs - as far as I can tell from news reports.

Both these parties run tobacco stores in many states - licensing was/is non-existant or minimal, although they are now increasing the overview and requirements in states that were lax.

These stores were mostly branded as vape/convenience stores until the recent regulation changes, now they often sell american candy and various random things along with local gov sanctioned cigarettes ($50/pack minimum) or the imported packs ($15-25 pack) - you can guess which one they pretty much exclusively sell.

Asians (Vietnamese/Chinese) are also selling the imported cigarettes out of their own branded stores and also some of the big chain tobacco stores (TSG, Cignall).

There have been dozens of arson attacks against the Lebanese and Biker stores over the last few years, supposedly over territory and payments.

A lebanese nearby had its security facade destroyed and was torched black the day after last years Christmas.

The asians don't seem to be involved in the arson attacks, they may be importing it as many of the packs are korean/chinese, but unsure as also eastern european and english brands are available.

The government engineered this situation with its ridiculous taxation policy, it was effective up to a point but it's becoming reminiscent of the era of alcohol prohibition in the USA.

[wkat4242]

$50 a pack? Yeah at those prices you can bet a black market crops up.

IMO this is only causing more problems. It won't put people off smoking because cheaper illegal alternatives arrive and it will create heavy crime syndicates.