Federal agents were at a property in Seymour today, but authorities are being tight-lipped about what’s happening.
Seymour police spokesman Lt. Paul Satkowski said the feds served a warrant at a residence on Mountain Road at about 1 p.m.
The agents were from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Special agent Jim McNally, the public information officer for the ATF, offered few details Tuesday.
“We’re conducting enforcement operations in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania,” McNally said.
McNally said no arrests were made Tuesday, and the investigation is “ongoing.”
The Connecticut Post reported the investigation may involve illegal tobacco sales.
“It will be continuing for a while,” McNally said. “It is the policy of ATF that we do not discuss investigations.”
At about 4:30 p.m. several agents were still in the driveway of the home.
About 15 minutes later a large van backed up the driveway. Agents could then be seen taking cardboard boxes from inside the home to the van.
They referred all questions to McNally.
The house in question is owned by Jugjeev, Sigh and Harneet Kharbanda, according to records in Seymour Town Hall. The family purchased the home in May 2010 for $375,000.
Jugjeev Kharbanda is also listed as the owner of A‑Z Discount Merchandise, Inc. at 337 E. Columbus St. in Springfield, Mass. Calls to the business Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Massachusetts records show the company was in the wholesale convenience store merchandise business — the corporation dissolved in January.
The same business filings list Kharbanda’s residence as Seymour and list a local phone number as contact.
A man answering the phone first said he was Kharbanda, then said he was not.
Shortly after authorities arrived at the property, an ambulance was called to the home to help a resident who may have been having a heart attack, according to emergency radio dispatches.
Satkowski said Seymour officers assisted ATF agents in the operation.
The Seymour property was one of several raided today by federal agents in Connecticut and Massachusetts, McNally said.
Businesses and residences were also searched in Berlin, Danbury, Hamden and Middletown, along with the Massachusetts towns of Attleboro and Springfield.
Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller confirmed that ATF agents were in town.
Miller said Seymour police notified earlier today of the federal activity. He referred further questions to Satkowski.
