The Cayuga Nation was back in court to seek the return of 17,600 cartons of cigarettes and other property that were seized in an illegal raid of the tribe's two smoke shops.

The cigarettes are reportedly worth $500,000. The tribe says authorities in Cayuga and Seneca counties don't have a right to hold onto them now that a state court ruled that the tribe could sell tax-free tobacco products.

The counties also seized computers and other tribal property during the November 2008 raid. They have rejected the tribe's offer to settle the case and are appealing to the state's highest court.

Get the Story:
Cayugas seek return of cigarettes, computers seized in tax raid (The Syracuse Post-Standard 7/17)

New York Appellate Division Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. Gould (July 10, 2009)

New York Supreme Court Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. Gould (December 9, 2008)

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Second county rejects Cayuga tobacco tax offer (7/16)
County to appeal Cayuga Nation tobacco case (7/15)
Cayuga Nation offers settlement in tobacco case (7/14)
Cayuga Nation wins tobacco taxation decision (7/13)
Battle over Cayuga Nation tobacco continues (3/6)
Cayuga Nation halts sale of tax-free cigarettes (2/20)
Judge rules against Cayuga Nation tobacco sales (2/19)
Cayuga Nation to reopen disputed smoke shops (01/30)
Court halts Cayuga Nation tobacco prosecution (01/22)
Cayuga Nation seeks halt to tobacco prosecution (1/13)
Cayuga Nation plans to fight tobacco tax charges (12/10)
Cayuga Nation in court over raid of smokeshops (12/4)
Cayuga Nation claims 'reservation' exemption (12/2)
Cayuga Nation heads to court after smokeshop raid (12/1)
County authorities raid Cayuga Nation smoke shops (11/26)