Crime & Safety
Lemont Man Accused of Smuggling Cigarettes from Missouri
Anwar K. Dihan faces felony charges after smuggling 240 cartons of cigarettes with Missouri tax stamps, police said.
A Lemont man is facing felony charges after illegally transporting 240 cartons of cigarettes from Missouri, police said.
Anwar K. Dihan, 42, of the 1200 block of Camelot Lane was driving north on Interstate 55 near the Des Plaines River bridge at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday when an Illinois State Police officer stopped him for speeding in a construction zone, according to a Sun-Times Media report.
The trooper noticed 240 cartons of cigarettes with Missouri tax stamps in Dihan's vehicle, according to reports. Illinois law prohibits having more than 1,000 packs of cigarettes to resell unless the individual has a tobacco license through the Department of Revenue.
Dihan does not have the required license, authorities said.
Police said they found another 130 cartons belonging to Dihan in a storage facility in Bridgeview, along with $12,000 and many cases of baby formula.
Dihan was charged with possession of contraband cigarettes and transport of contraband cigarettes, according to the Will County Sheriff's office.
He was released Thursday on $10,000 bond.
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