buttleggers Feb. 29, 2012

‘Operation Buttlegger’ Nets Illegal Cigarette Sales Ring in Brooklyn

By Brett Smiley

The best part about busting one of these cases has to be revealing the amusing wordplay.

Sources

Tags:

Show Leave a Comment

‘Operation Buttlegger’ Nets Illegal Cigarette Sales Ring in Brooklyn

Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission.

Most Viewed Stories

Editor’s Picks

the trump administration
Trump Is DEI for ‘Competent White Men’ Trump Is DEI for ‘Competent White Men’
transgender youth
‘It Shouldn’t Be Happening Here’ ‘It Shouldn’t Be Happening Here’
early and often
RFK Jr.’s Extremely Improbable Rise to HHS Secretary RFK Jr.’s Extremely Improbable Rise to HHS Secretary

THE FEED

early and often

early and often

Why Trump’s Plan to Kill the Education Department May Fail

Cuts to special education and schools that serve disadvantaged kids won’t go over well outside the MAGA base.

the trump administration

the trump administration

Trump Is DEI for ‘Competent White Men’

As he and Elon Musk consolidate power, they elevate a race and gender hierarchy with themselves at the top.

early and often

early and often

RFK Jr.’s Extremely Improbable Rise to HHS Secretary

Last year, Trump called Kennedy the most “radical left” presidential candidate. Now he’s set to be a powerful figure in his administration.

Most Popular

Republicans Fall Behind Nominating Tulsi Gabbard

After squeaking by in a key vote, Gabbard is seemingly on a glide path to confirmation.

When Will the Declassified JFK Files Be Released Publicly?

The president has ordered their disclosure with a timeline that suggests it might actually happen this time.

tremendous content

tremendous content

Trump to Attend Super Bowl Because We Can’t Have a Moment’s Peace

By Margaret Hartmann

Thinking you’ll try to avoid talking politics at your Super Bowl watch party next Sunday? Think again!

Key Republican Falls in Line Behind RFK Jr.

Kennedy’s HHS nomination advanced to the full Senate after Republican senator Bill Cassidy, a potential swing vote, voted in his favor.

early and often

early and often

Trump Cabinet Confirmation Hearings: Schedule & How to Watch

By Margaret Hartmann and Chas Danner

Will the Senate GOP confirm controversial picks like Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr.? Here’s the hearings schedule and list of who’s been confirmed.

ICE Has Restaurant Workers Terrified

By Chris Crowley

Nobody is sure exactly what’s going on, but any threat of deportation is too grave to ignore.

The Trade War Comes For Temu

By John Herrman

Americans flocked to Temu and Shein. Trump’s tariffs could destroy them.

Canada Tariffs Delayed Too: Trade War Updates

Only the new China tariff is still set to start Tuesday, at least for now.

early and often

early and often

Elon Musk May Have Your Social Security Number

The billionaire and his DOGE agents were granted full access to the Treasury’s federal payments system, and nobody knows to what end.

foreign interests

foreign interests

Inside Elon Musk’s Killing of USAID

By Jonathan Guyer

Saboteurs, tears, and a last-minute push to save lives.

Relitigating 2024 Won’t Help Democrats Fight Trump Today

Democrats need to avoid making last year’s mistakes in 2028. But none of it may matter if they don’t unite to fight Trump right now.

tremendous content

tremendous content

Why Does Trump Want Greenland? His Imperialistic Threats, Explained.

By Margaret Hartmann

Some of Trumps threats to take over Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal are based on actual U.S. strategic goals. Others are just idiotic.

early and often

early and often

Democrats May Shut Down Government to Keep Trump From Gutting It

Republicans need Democratic votes to keep the government open. This is leverage Democrats could use to rein in Trump and Musk’s power grab.

confirmation bias

confirmation bias

How Democrats Lost the Dissident Vote

Even if RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard are not confirmed, they represent a problem for their old party.

just asking questions

just asking questions

‘We’ve Got an Enormous Crisis on Our Hands’

By Benjamin Hart

Public-policy expert Don Kettl discusses Trump and Musk’s blitzkrieg attack on the federal workforce and where it goes next.

The Kansas City Chiefs Are Something Worse Than Cheaters

America has had enough of this boring and swagless dynasty.

unnatural disasters

unnatural disasters

How Can a Plane Suddenly Nose-Dive?

Here are some of the reasons why aircraft can catastrophically veer toward the ground like a medevac jet did in Philadelphia on Friday night.

Trump Approval Rating Looks Fragile at Start of Second Term

The 47th president is more popular than he’s been for most of his political career. But it won’t take much to bring back bad vibes.

early and often

early and often

Democrats See Opportunity in Unpopular Trump Spending Cuts

Focusing on the concrete consequences of Donald Trump’s funding freezes, rather than abstract arguments about democracy, could be the way forward.

unnatural disasters

unnatural disasters

The D.C. Plane Crash Is No Mystery

A lot is unknown, but one basic fact is not: The helicopter pilot was clearly at fault.

early and often

early and often

Trump’s ‘Shock and Awe’ Looks More Like Chaos and Confusion

From the funding freeze to the federal-employee buyout, the White House doesn’t seem to know what its own teams are doing.

How Trump Has Already Changed the Justice Department

He immediately went into demolition mode.