Four nabbed for allegedly smuggling cigarettes

Four individuals were arrested last week for smuggling cigarettes in Cecil County in two separate incidents, according to the state comptroller's office.
On July 30, Maryland State Police pulled over Hammam Sharhan, 19, of Inwood, N.Y., and Jean William, 25, of Far Rockaway, N.Y., on Interstate 95 in a routine traffic stop.
Trooper Joseph Twardowski observed a significant amount of Marengo cigarettes in their 1996 Jeep Cherokee during the traffic stop and contacted the comptroller's Field Enforcement Division, the office reported.
Comptroller agents seized 2,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, valued at nearly $12,000, as well as confiscating the Jeep registered in Georgia.
On Aug.3, comptroller agents arrested Ashraf Bakar, 25, and Jennifer Whisenhunt, 27, both of Germantown, N.C., after receiving a tip from Sgt. Michael Connor of Maryland State Police, the office reported.
Bakar and Whisenhunt were found to be transporting 5,810 packs of contraband cigarettes in Cecil County, worth about $35,000. Agents seized the cigarettes and their 2011 Chevrolet Suburban used to transport them.
All four individuals were charged with transporting contraband cigarettes and possession of contraband cigarettes in the state of Maryland. The transporting charge is a felony, which carries a $50 per carton fine and/or two years imprisonment; and the possession offense is a misdemeanor, carrying a $1,000 fine and/or imprisonment, not exceeding one year.
Statewide last week, comptroller agents confiscated nearly 15,000 packs of the contraband cigarettes and arrested nine people in five separate cases. So far in fiscal year 2012, Comptroller agents have arrested 31 individuals for tobacco violations, seizing nearly 40,000 packs of contraband cigarettes and more than 3,200 packages of Other Tobacco Product (OTP) valued at more than $240,000.
"I am very proud of my agents for their tenacity in ridding our streets of contraband," Comptroller Peter Franchot said Friday. "My office remains committed to aggressively pursuing cigarette smugglers and tax scofflaws to protect the public and law abiding small businesses."
Caron Brace, a spokeswoman for the comptroller's office, said residents are legally allowed to bring two packs of cigarettes across state lines. Maryland tobacco taxes are currently set at $2 per pack, she added.
"Tobacco smuggling disrupts the level playing field that our state's businesses are supposed to operate under," Brace said.