(a) A person who is not licensed under this chapter may not ship or cause to be shipped cigarettes to a person in this state unless the person receiving the cigarettes is
(1) licensed under this chapter;
(2) an operator of a customs bonded warehouse under 19 U.S.C. 1311 or 19 U.S.C. 1555; or
(3) an instrumentality of the federal government or an Indian tribal organization authorized by law to possess cigarettes not taxed under this chapter.
(b) A person who is licensed under this chapter may not ship or cause to be shipped cigarettes to a person in this state unless the person receiving the cigarettes
(1) is licensed under this chapter;
(2) holds a business license endorsement under AS 43.70.075;
(3) is an operator of a customs bonded warehouse under 19 U.S.C. 1311 or 19 U.S.C. 1555;
(4) is an instrumentality of the federal government or an Indian tribal organization authorized by law to possess cigarettes not taxed under this chapter; or
(5) is an individual 19 years of age or older receiving the cigarettes for personal consumption and the tax imposed on the cigarettes under this chapter has been paid.
(c) A common or contract carrier may not knowingly transport cigarettes to a person in this state unless the person
(1) shipping the cigarettes is licensed under this chapter and, before shipment, provides the common or contract carrier with a copy of the person's current license issued by the department and an affidavit from the intended recipient certifying that the person receiving the cigarettes is a person described under (b)(1) - (5) of this section; or
(2) receiving the cigarettes is a person described under (a)(2) or (3) of this section or is licensed under this chapter and, before receipt, provides the common or contract carrier with a copy of the person's current license issued by the department.
(d) If the cigarettes are transported by a common or contract carrier to a home or residence, it is rebuttably presumed that the common or contract carrier knew that the person receiving the cigarettes was not a person described under (b)(1) - (5) of this section, unless the person shipping the cigarettes has satisfied the requirements in (c)(1) of this section.
(e) A person, other than a common or contract carrier, may not knowingly transport cigarettes to a person in this state, unless the person receiving the cigarettes is a person described under (b)(1) - (5) of this section.
(f) A person who ships or causes to be shipped cigarettes to a person in this state shall plainly and visibly mark the container or wrapping with the word “cigarettes” if the cigarettes are shipped in a container or wrapping other than the cigarette manufacturer's original container or wrapping.
(g) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a
(1) class A misdemeanor if the person unlawfully ships, causes to be shipped, or transports at least one but fewer than 5,000 cigarettes;
(2) class C felony if the person unlawfully ships, causes to be shipped, or transports 5,000 or more cigarettes.
(h) In addition to the criminal penalty under (g) of this section, the department may assess a civil fine of not more than $5,000 for each violation of this section.
(i) A person who violates the provisions of this section is jointly and severally liable for the taxes imposed by AS 43.50.090 and 43.50.190. To the fullest extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, a person who violates the provisions of this section is required to collect the taxes and pay them to the department.