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3 Henrico suspects arrested in interstate cigarette trafficking operation

Posted at 9:13 PM, May 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-05 21:21:17-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. – Police have arrested four people, including three from Glen Allen, as a part of a group engaged in an illegal interstate cigarette trafficking operation in Richmond.

Henrico County Police and the Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office initiated an investigation of the group during the fall of 2015 after an increase in crime surrounding cigarette distribution and sales.

“The investigation revealed the organization would purchase large quantities of tax-exempt cigarettes in the Metro-Richmond area and arrange for their illegal transport to New York City and other areas,” Henrico County Police Lt. Chris Eley said in a Press release. “The operation continued for several months and involved the purchase of millions of dollars’ worth of cigarettes.”

The charges against the four suspects includes racketeering, money laundering, and cigarette trafficking.

Qiuyue Chen, 35, of Glen Allen, and Fu Chen, 42, of Glen Allen, Ihab Samir Abou El Ela, 43, of Glen Allen

Qiuyue Chen, 35, of Glen Allen, and Fu Chen, 42, of Glen Allen, Ihab Samir Abou El Ela, 43, of Glen Allen

Qiuyue Chen, 35, and Fu Chen, 42, of Glen Allen, has been charged with racketeering, money laundering, cigarette trafficking and purchasing cigarettes under a fictitious business.

Ihab Samir Abou El Ela, 43, of Glen Allen, has been charged with racketeering and cigarette trafficking.

Song Zheng, 37, of Brooklyn, NY, has been charged with Cigarette Trafficking.

Henrico police said the investigation was a collaborative effort between multiple departments and agencies in Virginia and New York:

“Henrico County Police Division, the New York City Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police PACE Team, Maryland Comptroller’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Chesterfield County Police, Richmond City Police, Virginia State Police, the Virginia Office of the Attorney General Tobacco Enforcement Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, Altria/Philip Morris USA Brand and Trade Channel Integrity Group, and Walmart/Sam’s Global Investigations.”

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