ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A convenience store on Atlantic Avenue has been shut down after an employee was caught selling narcotics and other illegal items while on duty. The Atlantic City Police Department arrested Cecil Morgan, 35, on August 16, 2024, following an investigation by detectives from the Special Investigations Section.
The surveillance operation, which focused on the distribution and possession of narcotics, observed Morgan, a clerk at the 24-7 Food Mart, repeatedly leaving the counter to engage with customers. During these interactions, Morgan was seen selling narcotics and was found to be in possession of a digital scale, commonly used in drug distribution. He was also observed selling loose cigarettes to a customer.
Morgan was arrested after leaving the store unattended with customers still inside. Upon his arrest, officers found 12 grams of cocaine and over four grams of marijuana in his possession. A search of the store revealed numerous cartons of cigarettes and paraphernalia related to narcotics distribution.
The New Jersey Department of Treasury’s Office of Criminal Investigation and the City’s Department of Licensing & Inspection were notified of the arrest. The store was handed over to one of its owners, Tariq Mehmood, who, along with Yasmin Faheem, was charged with several tobacco-related offenses.
Arrested:
- Cecil Morgan, 35, of Atlantic City
Charges: Possession of CDS (Controlled Dangerous Substance), possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public zone (two counts), and possession of CDS paraphernalia.
Charged:
- Tariq Mehmood, 58, of Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Charges: Possession of unstamped, out-of-state stamped, or counterfeit stamped cigarettes, engaging in a cigarette transaction with an unlicensed person, sale of loose cigarettes (loosies), and failure to display the New Jersey Cigarette Retail Dealer’s License. - Yasmin Faheem, 39, of Atlantic City
Charges: Possession of unstamped, out-of-state stamped, or counterfeit stamped cigarettes, engaging in a cigarette transaction with an unlicensed person, sale of loosies, and failure to display the New Jersey Cigarette Retail Dealer’s License.
As a result of these violations, the City served the owners with paperwork suspending the business’s mercantile license, effectively closing the store. The investigation remains ongoing, and further enforcement actions may follow.
