N.C. man charged after discovery of 20K packs of untaxed cigarettes

A North Carolina man was arrested Saturday after Maryland Transportation Authority Police found him to have more than 20,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes in his car. MdTA police said the man, Ammar M. Shamakh, was pulled over for speeding and officers discovered the cigarettes shortly thereafter throughout the vehicle’s interior. The cigarettes are worth more than $133,000, police said.
“I’d like to thank the Maryland Transportation Authority Police for this arrest. They continue to be a great partner in Maryland’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal cigarette smuggling,” said Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot in a statement. “This type of large-scale cigarette smuggling hurts law-abiding retailers, makes it easier for kids and teenagers to get cigarettes, and deprives the State of vital revenues.”
 

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/nc-man-charged-after-discovery-of-20k-packs-of-untaxed-cigarettes/38273898