Odessa, DE – On April 15, 2015, the Division of Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) was contacted by the Delaware State Police after a trooper stopped a vehicle travelling north on SR 1 south of Odessa and a large amount of cigarettes were found in the vehicle. 

Mugahid Tahir Al Ghazali, 25, of New York, NY was travelling north on SR 1 in a rental vehicle and was stopped by a trooper for speeding.  Further investigation revealed the driver was in possession of 394 cartons of untaxed cigarettes of various brands. 
 
A DATE agent responded to the scene and verified that the 394 cartons were obtained in Virginia and were being transported to an unknown destination. Al Ghazali was charged by DATE with Possession of Untaxed Cigarettes and Attempting to Evade Delaware Excise Tax. The rental car was confiscated and returned to the rental company. He was later released after posting a $5,500 cash only bail.

Media Contact:
John Yeomans, Director
john.yeomans@delaware.gov
(302) 741-2719

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