ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On June 24, 2024 Detectives from the Special Investigations Section (SIS) conducted a Tobacco Compliance operation. Members of APD’s Special Enforcement Action Team (SEAT), APD Patrol Officers and Community Outreach Cadets assisted in the operation. During the operation, the cadets would pose as the underage customer and attempt to purchase tobacco, or electronic smoking devices from businesses within the City of Annapolis limits who are able to sell tobacco products.
During the course of the operation, five businesses failed to comply with the regulations and requirements of tobacco sales to persons under the age of 21, which is an arrestable misdemeanor offense under CR 10-107 (C)(1) and carries a $300 penalty for the first offense.
The 5 businesses that failed the compliance check were:
● Exxon Gas Station; 1926 West St (24-13158)
● Tobacco King; 1933 West St (24-13161)
● 7-Eleven; 1527 Forest Dr (24-13167)
● Tobacco Hut; 2020 West St (24-13172)
● Walgreens; 1005 Bay Ridge Ave (24-13173)
The 27 businesses that successfully passed the Tobacco Compliance checks were:
● Shell Gas Station (2006 West St)
● Pinky’s West St. Liquors (1100 West St)
● Quick Mart (900 West St)
● 7-Eleven (611 Taylor Ave)
● Bay Ridge Wine and Spirits (111 Hillsmere Dr)
● Dollar General (123 Hillsmere Dr)
● Pantry-1 Food Mart (1090 Spa Rd)
● AL Goodies (112 Main St)
● Main Street Mini Mart (222 Main St)
● Royal Farms Store (424 Sixth St)
● Annapolis Wine and Spirits (1307 Forest Dr)
● Safeway Grocery (1781 Forest Dr)
● Carroll Fuels (210 Ridgely Ave)
● Walgreens (609 Taylor Ave)
● BP Gas (910 West St)
● Capitol Liquors (249 West St)
● Urban Market (1207 Forest Dr)
● Chesapeake Market (502 S. Cherry Grove Ave)
● Vitola (121 Main St)
● Chesapeake Pipe and Cigar (45 Old Solomons Island Rd)
● 7-Eleven (111 West St)
● Parole Liquors (2125 Forest Dr)
● Grits Liquors (34 West St)
● Shell Gas (335 Sixth St)
● Forest Dr Liquors (1910 Forest Dr)
● Lighthouse Liquors (2012 West St)
● Royal Tobacco (232 Main St)
Criminal citations were issued to the following persons:
- Shahzad, Rana Khuram, Exxon (1926 West St) Sale of tobacco to subject under 21 years of age
- Amara, Chifhali Ould, Tobacco King (1933 West St) Sale of tobacco to subject under 21 years of age
- Rana, Sandeep Singh, 7Eleven (1527 Forest Dr) Sale of tobacco to subject under 21 years of age
- Amar Ould Jeddou, Ethmane, Tobacco Hut (2020 West St) Sale of tobacco to subject under 21 years of age
- Rankins, Armeka Sequoia Rochelle, Walgreens (1005 Bay Ridge Ave) Sale of tobacco to subject under 21 years of age.
The Operation was funded through a grant provided by the City of Annapolis, and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health.
