For several years I've been perplexed - no, curious. When I submit an article for The Citizen, is it an exercise in futility? Is the average person concerned about the billions of dollars of counterfeit products being sold in New York state, not just in Auburn? By searching the Internet, it apparently was common knowledge.

Thousands of individuals and organizations openly buy cigarettes with no state tax stamp in New York state, and many other states. It's against the law to sell cigarettes without a state tax stamp. Apparently the old adage, if enough people commit a crime, it decriminalizes it.

In response to research on my computer, I received a seven page read-out. Apparently nothing new in Kings County or Queens, crime is alive and well.

A Jordanian national has set up a counterfeit cigarette distribution system, whereby diverting cigarettes intended for legitimate cigarette distributors to warehouses he controls. The counterfeit tax stamps are worth over $6 million.

This illegal product is being distributed by postal services. In my opinion it has nothing to do with sovereignty, it's against the law to sell cigarettes without a legal New York state tax stamp.

Stan Bryant

Auburn