2. 2005 - As a direct result of pressures applied by certain States, UPS (United Parcel Service) enacted an internal policy in the USA to not accept or deliver any cigarette or tobacco product that was Un-State-Taxed, Unreported, or shipped by or consigned to, any unlicensed entity. Fed-Ex initiated similar internal policies in 2003.

3. 2005 - USA Federal Customs Authorities at all USA port of entries began a concerned effort of checking (x-raying) most packages entering the USA from any country overseas as part of the terrorist protection measures in the aftermath of 9/11. As a direct result, over 90% of all cigarettes coming through customs from overseas suppliers (Duty Free Suppliers) were discovered and were seized and, therefore, were never delivered to the consignee. In an effort to meet a 100% compliancy goal, worldwide couriers like UPS, Fed-X, TNT and others now scan and/or x-ray packages destined to enter the USA from overseas in search of any item that may fall into the category of illegal contraband based on USA law. If cigarettes are found, reports are made to USA authorities on the shipper & consignee and the product is either destroyed or returned to Customs Officials at the original point of origin for local investigation.

4. January 2006 – Under recommendation (pressure) by the worldwide entity controlling ACH; all independent online payment processing companies that are located in the USA that also accept Master Card and/or Visa or USA Bank EFT or Internet Check Systems as individual account holder funding options, enacted internal policies banning all payment processing of cigarettes and/or tobacco products and banned all merchants engaged in those types of businesses. The last to succumb to these pressures that we are aware of was Green Zap, Inc. in March 2006.

5. 2006 – The State of New York enacted legislation (which is being challenged in Court) banning all NY Licensed Cigarette/Tobacco Wholesale Distributors from selling or delivering any Un-State-Taxed cigarette or tobacco product to any reservation within the boundaries of the State of New York. This action sent all Native American Distributors located in NY scrambling in an attempt to secure product from outside NY State boundaries.

6. 2006 - As a direct result of pressures applied by certain States, Phillip Morris, Inc. USA (manufacturer of Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims & other well known & popular USA brands) issued an internal distributor policy banning all sales of Un-State-Taxed PM products to any distributor, supplier or retailer that offers products for sale directly to USA consumers online. If enforced by PM, termination of the violator’s Distributor Status & Direct Purchasing Agreement could result.

7. 2007 - As a direct result of pressures applied by certain States, the USA Banking system is currently considering an internal policy of banning all EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) and/or online check systems for all online cigarette/tobacco suppliers/retailers that sell product directly to USA consumers. Indications (rumors within the online tobacco industry) are that Banks will succumb to these pressures to avoid being forced into a policing (reporting) situation on those individual checking account holders that make purchases online of Un-State-Taxed cigarettes or tobacco products. It is very probable that this action by USA Banks could be implemented within the next 12 months.

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