Authorities have arrested three men and seized more than $130,000 in cash and contraband tobacco from a Meriden wholesaler after a four-month Department of Revenue Services investigation into untaxed products.
A&R Wholesale, LLC owner Mohamed Thahir, of Meriden, Syed Rizvi, of Middletown, and Mohamed Anis, of Waterbury, were arrested.
“Today our MSA enforcement agents shut down a lucrative operation that was a significant state-wide distributor of untaxed cigarette and tobacco products," Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Kevin B. Sullivan said. "Their actions stopped the sale of as much as $8 million in untaxed contraband."
Authorities arrested Rizvi in Middletown as he was about to head to Pennsylvania to buy untaxed tobacco items, seizing his 2014 delivery van and $60,000. Then they arrested Thahir at his home in Meriden, where they seized $23,000 in cash. Finally, they arrested Anis at his Waterbury home.
They raided A&R Wholesale in Meriden, recovering $47,000, a large quantity of untaxed tobacco products, contraband and counterfeit items, the department said in a news release.
“I hope this action sends a strong message to the sellers of untaxed tobacco products: If you do this in Connecticut, you will be caught, you will be arrested, and you will face the consequences. We will not allow you to profit from these illegal activities in this state," Sullivan said.
According to Sullivan, selling untaxed products "has been linked to the funding of various illegal activities, including terrorism."
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Both Rizvi and Thahir were charged with possession or sale of untaxed tobacco products and conspiracy to sell untaxed tobacco products. Thahir was also charged with sale of counterfeit goods, as was Anis. Authorities also charged Anis with possession of fraudulent tax stamps and sale of untaxed goods.
Rizvi faces a fine of up to $2,000 and/or up to two years in prison, Thahir faces a fine of up to $252,000 and/or up to two years in prison and Anis faces a fine of up to $256,000 and/or up to 11 years in prison.
Each man was issued $25,000 in non-surety bonds.
Information was not available on their court dates.
The DRS Master Settlement Agreement Tobacco Enforcement Unit spearheaded the investigation with the assistance of Meriden and Middletown police, the office of the chief states attorney, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the federal Department of Homeland Security.
