Those smokes were hot - literally!

An Ironton man was arrested last week after Ironton police confiscated 55 cartons of cigarettes from his car, and will likely face new charges after authorities learned the cigarettes were stolen.

Marcus Birchfield, 26, of 514 N. Sixth St., was charged with possessing cigarettes that do not have a lawfully affixed stamp. He may also face a charge of receiving stolen property.

Ironton police detective Jim Akers said Birchfield was stopped in the 600 block of Walnut Street on a routine traffic violation.

A search of Birchfield's car uncovered 55 cartons of cigarettes.

Since then, Akers said he discovered the

items were stolen from a Speedway convenience store in Maysville, Ky.

"Cigarettes are hot items," Akers said. "I don't know what they go for a pack or a carton but I know they're expensive."

Birchfield was housed in the Lawrence County Jail.