From: Afro
by Zenitha Prince
Four men were arrested in Hagerstown, Md. for allegedly illegally smuggling $154,000 worth of cigarettes across state lines July 10.
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot touted the successful operation as a prime example of interstate agency cooperation.
“Without the help of Investigator Charles ‘Chuck’ Howell with the Virginia’s Attorney General’s Office and Maryland State Police, we might have missed this opportunity to stop the illegal actions of these four individuals,” said Franchot. “Every smuggler caught is one more opportunity to crack down on illegal activity and I applaud the agencies involved for helping to aggressively uphold and enforce Maryland’s tax laws.”
The comptroller’s field enforcement agents and Maryland state police officers arrested Mohammad T. Issa, from College Point, N.Y., Osama T. Issa and Hazim M. Abuhakmeh from Brooklyn, N.Y., and Abdelaziz M. Abdelaziz, from Philadelphia, Pa., during a traffic stop on Interstate 81, south of Interstate 70 in Hagerstown. Authorities also seized nearly 26,000 packs of contraband cigarettes and two cars used in the alleged smuggling operation.
All four suspects were charged with transportation and possession of contraband cigarettes in Maryland. Abuhakmeh and Abdelaziz were also charged with conspiracy to transport and possess contraband cigarettes.
According to Maryland law, transportation of smuggled cigarettes is considered a felony and possession of contraband cigarettes is considered a misdemeanor. If convicted, the men face a sentence of at least two years imprisonment and a $1.3 million fine.
But Comptroller Franchot said he believes the crimes should carry harsher penalties.
“The current penalties for cigarette smuggling do nothing to dissuade people from trying time and time again to transport cigarettes illegally,” the comptroller stated. “In many instances those that are arrested are repeat offenders, and that is inexcusable.”
