From: The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY — The New York trial of West Ocean City resident Basel Ramadan, alleged ringleader of a vast multi-million dollar cigarette smuggling ring who was later charged with attempted “murder for hire” from behind bars, has dragged into its fourth week and will now pause while the judge vacations.
In May 2013, federal officials concluded an investigation into a multi-million-dollar cigarette smuggling operation with raids on two locations in and around the resort area, including the West Ocean City homes of Basel Ramadan, who was called the “ringleader” and “boss of the enterprise,” and Samer Ramadan, who was called the “enterprise treasurer.” Federal officials on the same day raided the Ramadans’ offices over the Subway restaurant they owned near 26th Street in Ocean City.
