With the lowest cigarette tax on the nation, Missouri has become something of a Mecca for cigarette smugglers, all puns intended. Indeed, 34 of the 35 indicted on federal conspiracy charges for trafficking contraband cigarettes, distributing controlled substances and money laundering have apparent Muslim names. The Sentinel would be reluctant to point this out save for the fact that the major media insist on sanitizing the Muslim experience in America.
According to KMOV, the suspects conspired for more than two years to buy cigarettes in St. Louis and then distribute them in Illinois, and New Jersey, both high tax markets. They stand accused of using their convenience stores to create the illusion of legality and of laundering the profits through store accounts.
Perhaps more disturbing, several of the store owners imported chemicals from China and manufactured synthetic drugs, specifically K2 or “Spice,” which they would then sell to local customers. These synthetic cannabinoids have been known to cause serious negative side effects “including high blood pressure, blurred vision, heart attack, vomiting, seizures, hallucinations, and severe anxiety and paranoia.” Deaths have also been associated with the drug.
“Synthetic drugs that are sold as purportedly legal substitutes for cannabis and stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, are neither legal nor safe,” James P. Shroba, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA St. Louis Division, told KMOV. “These substances were never intended for human consumption and only serve to satisfy the avarice of the seller.” If convicted, the accused could be looking at as much as 20 years in prison and a $1 million dollar fine.
Although the Department of Homeland Security was involved in the investigation, KMOV made no mention of a Muslim connection. KMOV did, however, list the names of those indicted. They are as follows:
Mohammed Almuttan, aka Abu Ali, 35, St. Louis, MO
Rami Almuttan, aka Abu Louay, 33, St. Louis, MO
Hisham Mutan, aka Abu Mohamed, 41, St. Louis, MO
Saddam Mutan, aka Abu Ali, 24, St. Louis, MO
Mazin Abdelsalam, aka Abu Mohammad, 38, St. Louis, MO
Najeh Muhana, aka Abu Yazan, 41, Fairview, NJ
Fares Muhana, aka Abu Yamama, 40, Cliffside Park, NJ
Ayoub Qaiymah, aka Abu Faysal, 23, Richmond, VA
Naser Abid, 23, Chicago, IL
Yadgar Barzanji, aka Abu Siver, 47, St. Louis, MO
Wafaa Alwan, 50, St. Louis, MO
Ahmed Abuali, aka Bazilla, 31, North Bergen, NJ
Mohammed Kayed, aka Mohammed Fayez, 21, Clifton, NJ
Momen Abuali, 20, Little Ferry, NJ
Firat Sevindik, 42, Cliffside Park, NJ
Mohammed Mustafa, 30, North Bergen, NJ
Mohammad Karashqah, Abu Yazid, 47, North Bergen, NJ
Fayez Sheikha, 46, Mishawaka, IN
Jihad Shihadeh, Abu Malik, 58, Chicago Ridge, IL
Ismael Abadi, 57, Carol Stream, IL
Abed Hamed, Abed Fawzan, 39, Greenville, NC
Maher Hamed, Abu Alazara, 33, Swansea, IL
Abdel Adi, 25, Oak Lawn, IL
Muhanad Khatib, Abu Alamin, 36, Chicago, IL
Eyad Awad, 38, Chicago, IL
Dale Garbin, 60, Kankakee, IL
Hayder Al Fatli, 40, St. Louis, MO
Kutlay Guvener, 35, Chicago, IL
Saad Al Mallak, 30, Dittmer, MO
Hassan Abdelatif, 29, Collinsville, IL
Mahajir Naz, 32, St. Louis, MO
Talal Abuajaj, 23, St. Louis, MO
Basem Hamdan, aka Abu Ramiz, 57, St. Louis, MO
Zainal Saleh, 29, St. Louis, MO and
Ibrahim Awad, 39, St. Louis, MO