Police cruiser at the scene.
Police cruiser at the scene.

Three Arrested in Kent County Drug Bust

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1 min read
June 13, 2024

DOVER, DE – Delaware State Police have arrested three men from Magnolia, Delaware, following a prolonged drug investigation in Kent County. The individuals arrested include 19-year-old Algahgaa Ata, 23-year-old Maddyan Ata, and 52-year-old Khaled Ata, all facing multiple charges related to drug dealing.

The investigation, which began in November 2023, was conducted by the Kent County Drug Unit and Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE). The focus was on three businesses: Ali Baba Smoke Shop and Ali Baba 2 Smoke Shop in Dover, and Liberty Happy Gas Station in Magnolia. These locations were suspected of being involved in large-scale drug distribution.

On June 11, detectives stopped a vehicle driven by M. Ata near Magnolia. A search of his car revealed a loaded handgun, about 17 grams of marijuana, and $5,915 in cash believed to be drug proceeds.

Simultaneously, search warrants were executed at the aforementioned businesses and a residence on Ponderosa Drive in Magnolia. A. Ata and K. Ata were apprehended at the Liberty Happy Gas Station. Searches of the properties resulted in the seizure of approximately 1025.32 grams of marijuana and THC products, two handguns, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and $158,523 in suspected drug proceeds.

Algahgaa Ata was taken to Troop 3 for processing, charged, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and subsequently released on a $2,000 unsecured bond.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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