ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 15, 2007) - Agents for Comptroller Peter Franchot today confiscated nearly 2,000 packs of illegal cigarettes from a Calvert County business. Today's bust brings the value of contraband cigarettes seized to more than $170,000 for fiscal year 2007. Working with the Maryland State Police, agents executed a search and seizure warrant at 9:50 a.m. at Breezy Point Deli Wine & Spirits, located at 3885 Breezy Point Road, in Chesapeake Beach. Police and agents found the business selling cigarettes without the required license.

"The Comptroller's Office is serious about going after law breakers," said Comptroller Peter Franchot. "Illegal operators hurt local, law-abiding businesses and we won't tolerate that activity."

The bust resulted from a two-month-old investigation of the business whose owner/operator had been previously warned to cease the sale of cigarettes and ordered to immediately obtain a cigarette license. Comptroller agents, working undercover, went back to the business last week and once again purchased cigarettes while the business remained unlicensed. Today's warrant serving netted 1,741 packs of illegal cigarettes.

The business owner/operator, Stephen Tucker, 40, of Huntingtown, Md. faces charges of unlawfully selling cigarettes without the required license in addition to doing business without the required trader's license. The penalty for selling cigarettes without a license is a $1,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail while businesses found operating without a trader's license are subject to a $300 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Both violations are misdemeanors.

So far in fiscal year 2007, the Comptroller's enforcement agents have charged 49 individuals with tobacco violations and have confiscated a total of 41,345 packs of cigarettes with an estimated value of approximately $170,408.

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CONTACT: Christine Duray, 410-260-6346 (office), 443-336-0215 (cell)