Man accused of transporting 2,500 packs of contraband cigarettes

A New Jersey man accused of having more than 2,500 packs of contraband cigarettes in his vehicle when it was stopped by authorities in Howard County was indicted last week by a county grand jury.

Baudin Karpuzi, 41, of Old Bridge, is charged with possessing untaxed cigarettes and with transporting untaxed cigarettes, according to online court records.

Karpuzi was arrested Aug. 2 on Interstate 95 at the highway's intersection with Route 32. Agents from the Maryland comptroller's field enforcement division say they found 2,508 packs of contraband cigarettes, worth nearly $15,000, in the car he was driving, according to Caron Brace, spokeswoman for the state comptroller.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 30 in Howard County Circuit Court.