Joint Drug Investigation by Delaware Agencies Leads to Arrests for Felony Drug Offenses

March 11, 2026/Joe Ciccanti

Delaware State Police, in a joint investigation with Delaware Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement and the DEA, arrested 25-year-old Maddyan Ata and 34-year-old Mohamed Lamar of Magnolia, and 20-year-old Alex Gomez-McDowell of Dover on felony drug charges. The investigation, which began in June 2025, targeted two Dover-area businesses suspected of large-scale drug distribution: Ali Baba Smoke Shop and Liberty Happy Gas Station. Search warrants executed earlier this month on March 4th, led to the seizure of marijuana and THC products, prescription pills, drug paraphernalia, and items used to evade drug testing.

Additional Information from the Delaware State Police:

On March 4, 2026, detectives executed search warrants at the smoke shop and gas station that led to the discovery of the following items:

Ali Baba Smoke Shop

  • Approximately 255 pounds of marijuana and marijuana products (THC vapes)
  • Drug paraphernalia related to the illegal sale and distribution of marijuana
  • Fake urine used to mask drug use and defeat drug testing
  • Approximately 1,818g of OPIA 7-hydroxymitragynine pills

Liberty Happy Gas Station

  • 130 Viagra pills
  • 2 digital scales
  • Drug paraphernalia

Maddyan Ata

Ata was taken into custody at Probation and Parole without incident and taken to Troop 3. He was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $249,300 cash bond.

List of Charges:

  • Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony) – 2 counts
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tier 3 (Felony) – 2 counts
  • Distribute, Deliver, Sell, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Drug Masking Product (Felony)
  • Maintaining a Drug Property (Felony)
  • Criminal Nuisance Conduct or Maintain Any Premise, Place, Resort for Unlawful Conduct
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

 

Mohamed Lamar

Lamar was taken into custody at Liberty Happy Gas Station without incident and taken to Troop 3. He was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.

List of Charges:

  • Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 2 counts
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

 

Alex Gomez-McDowell

Gomez-McDowell was taken into custody at Ali Baba Smoke Shop without incident and taken to Troop 3. He was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Charges:

  • Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 4 counts

 

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