Atlantic city convenience store closed after clerk arrested for drug sales and other violations
Police light, crime scene - Stock photo.

Atlantic City Convenience Store Closed After Clerk Arrested for Drug Sales and Other Violations

Posted by
1 min read
August 28, 2024

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.

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.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss