Man pleads guilty to smuggling cigarettes abroad

MIAMI — Authorities say an American has pleaded guilty to smuggling more than 27 million cigarettes from the U.S. into some European Union countries.

Authorities in Miami say 57-year-old Roman Vidal pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud. They say he was trying to avoid paying more than $6.5 million in customs and tax duties.

They say he arranged to buy cases of cigarettes from Panama along with other cargo such as yarn and wood flooring to cover them up. Authorities say he directed the preparation of documents that declared only the cover materials, not the cigarettes.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 10.

Vidal's attorney didn't immediately return a telephone message and an e-mail.