Press Release:
On July 8, 2025, at approximately 10:00 am, Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office along with Officers and Agents with North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, and the Belhaven Police Department executed search warrants on 11 Tobacco and Vape stores located in Washington, Chocowinity, Aurora, and Belhaven NC. Search warrants were also conducted on two additional businesses, one in Belhaven, and one in Aurora that were part of the investigation.
The search warrants were conducted as a part of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a two-month investigation of complaints from residents that led to controlled purchases of products containing illegal controlled substances and other illegal items.
Sheriff Scott Hammonds said
"These businesses are selling dangerous products that are targeting our youth through deceptive packaging and destroying lives in our community. These dangerous products have been connected to medical emergencies that have required EMS response at our schools and throughout Beaufort County. These business owners and their employees will continue to be held accountable for selling illegal products in Beaufort County. I am grateful for the partnerships we have with our surrounding law enforcement agencies, providing a force multiplier when conducting such large-scale operations. This partnership has been extremely beneficial to all of the agencies by sharing information that help to build stronger cases for the perspective agencies investigations."
Search warrants were executed on the following Beaufort County vape stores:
King Smoke, 1316 John Small Ave. Washington, NC
King Smoke, 1700 West 5th St. Suite 330 Washington, NC
Z Tobacco and Vape, 1121 John Small Ave. Washington, NC
Smokers Best 1, 520 Pamlico Plaza, Washington, NC
Smokers Best 2, 1412 Carolina Ave. Washington, NC
VIC Tobacco and Vape, 2289 West 5th St. Suite 500 Washington, NC
River Mart, 2947 River Rd, Washington, NC
Choco Tobacco House, 3609 US-17 Business, Chocowinity, NC
Z Tobacco and Vape 3, 986 Hwy 264 Bypass Belhaven, NC
Prime Deli, 998 Hwy 264 Bypass Belhaven, NC
Aurora Mini Mart, 391 NC-33 East, Aurora, NC
Terry's Convenient Mart, 351 NC-33 East, Aurora, NC
Aurora Tobacco and Vape, 349 NC-33 East, Aurora, NC
As a result of this investigation the following was seized: 24,621 grams of THC products, 295 grams of Khat (schedule IV Cathine), 137 grams of Tianeptine (a schedule II opioid), and $73,864 in US currency.
The North Carolina Department of Revenue and the North Carolina Secretary of States Office assisted in the operation, holding the businesses accountable for revenue and business violations as they were identified.
The following individuals were arrested in connection with this case:
26-year-old Anas Izzadeen Mohammed Alrayani of Washington NC was confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond for the following charges:
- (2) Felony counts of Trafficking in Opium or Heroin
30-year-old Mugahed Taha Mohanned Al Awdi of Greenville NC was confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond for the following charge:
- (1) Felony count of Trafficking in Opium or Heroin
28-year-old Alexis Raine Murdock of Bath NC was confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $30,000 bond for the following charges:
- (3) Felony counts of Possession of Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts Sell/Deliver Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts of Possess With Intent to Manufacture Sell Deliver Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts of Maintain Place for Controlled Substance
- (3) Misdemeanor counts of Possess Drug Paraphernalia
25-year-old Ammar Abdulla Alsaidi of Washington NC was confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under no bond for the following charges.
- (3) Felony counts of Possession of Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts of Sell/Deliver Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts of Possess With Intent to Manufacture Sell Deliver Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts of Maintain Place for Controlled Substance
- (3) Misdemeanor counts of Possess Drug Paraphernalia
62-year-old Omar Fayez Bahhur of Aurora NC was confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond for the following charges:
- (2) Felony counts of Possession of Marijuana
- (2) Felony counts of Sell/Deliver Marijuana
- (2) Felony counts of Possess With Intent to Manufacture Sell Deliver Marijuana
- (2) Felony counts of Maintain Place for Controlled Substance
- (2) Misdemeanor counts of Possess Drug Paraphernalia
60-year-old Samerah Ismail Awad of Aurora NC was arrested and confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond for the following charges:
- (2) Felony counts of Possession of Marijuana
- (2) Felony counts of Sell/Deliver Marijuana
- (2) Felony counts of Possess With Intent Manufacture Sell Deliver Marijuana
- (2) Felony counts of Maintain Place for Controlled Substance
- (2) Misdemeanor counts of Possess Drug Paraphernalia
28-year-old Dakota Vernon of Aurora NC was arrested and confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond for the following charges:
- (3) Felony counts of Possession of Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts of Sell/Deliver Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts of Possess With Intent Manufacture Sell Deliver Marijuana
- (3) Felony counts of Maintain Place for Controlled Substance
- (3) Misdemeanor counts of Possess Drug Paraphernalia
39-year-old Munef Mohammed Ali Abdulmughni of New Bern was arrested by New Bern Police Department on Beaufort County warrants and confined under a $1,000,000 secured bond for the following charges:
- (3) Felony counts of Trafficking in Opium or Heroin
The case is still active, and more charges are expected in the future.
Sheriff Hammonds asks anyone with information on suspected drug trafficking or other illegal activity to contact the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office at (252) 946-7111. You can also submit tips anonymously by contacting Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252) 974-6400 or submit your confidential tip by downloading the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office App and selecting Submit A Tip.
- Sheriff Scott Hammonds
- Beaufort County Sheriff's Office
It is also telling that most of these are NOT local names. How many came in with the Biden open borders?