Contraband cigarettes seized on I-95

CECIL COUNTY, Md. - On the last day of the fiscal year, agents for Comptroller Peter Franchot confiscated nearly 3,400 packs of contraband cigarettes and arrested a man on Interstate 95 in Cecil County.

During a routine traffic stop, Maryland State Police Sergeant Michael Conner saw a case of cigarettes in plain view, in the back seat of a car.

Sergeant Conner discovered more cigarettes in the car and immediately notified the Comptroller's Office.

Comptroller's agents arrived on the scene and seized the 3,400 packs of illegal cigarettes, valued at more than $20,000.

Agents arrested the driver, Ibrahima Dially, 50 of Bronx, NY, and charged him with transporting contraband cigarettes in the state.

The transporting charge is a felony which carries a $50 per carton fine and/or two years of imprisonment, not exceeding one year.

Dially was remanded to the Cecil County Detention Center where he is being held on a $6,000 bond.

"As I have stated time and time again, this illegal activity will not be tolerated in Maryland and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to stop the criminals who blatantly disregard Maryland's tax laws," said Comptroller Franchot. I want to thank the Maryland State Police, once again, for their invaluable assistance in this case. Just last week, we made a similar arrest as a result of this tremendous partnership."

In Fiscal Year 2011, the Comptroller's agents arrested 111 individuals for various tobacco violations, seizing 184,527 packs of contraband cigarettes and 19,167 packages of other contraband tobacco products with a total retail value of nearly $1.1 million.