LIQUOR STORE OWNER FINED $8,000 FOR BAGS

150,000 Small Sacks Are Of Type Often Used In Drug Trade, Officials Say

A Southwest Baltimore liquor store owner who authorities say had more than
150,000 tiny plastic bags that often are used to package drugs was fined
more than $8,000 yesterday by the Board of Liquor License Commissioners and
ordered not to sell liquor for at least 40 days, beginning Monday. Jeanne
Wei, 50, also was cited for selling alcohol to a minor.

Wei owns Sunny Liquors Inc. in the 2000 block of Frederick Ave. She
testified that she purchased the bags - commonly used to package marijuana
and cocaine - so customers could use them for jewelry. She said an Asian
man from New York suggested in March that she sell the "jewelry bags" to
boost business.

But the board rejected Wei's claim, considering the bags drug paraphernalia
under state law.

"We believe ... these bags were purchased to sell to drug dealers, ... and
we're not going to put up with it," liquor board Chairman Leonard R.
Skolnik told Wei. "The idea that the bags were sold for jewelry is ridiculous."

Samuel T. Daniels, chief inspector for the liquor board, said he believes
Wei knew of the bags' use in the drug trade.

"I think the sentence is reflective of the drug problem and the board's
judgment as to the store's contribution to that problem," Daniels said.
"One of the valuable things to doing alcohol stings all over the city is it
enables us to uncover other problems."

The drug paraphernalia was discovered April 25 after an underage police
cadet purchased a 22-ounce can of malt liquor without being asked for
identification.

Daniels said that for more than a year, he, the police cadet, Inspector
U.M. Abdul-Hamid and Baltimore police Officer Darren Belechto have been
monitoring city establishments that sell alcohol.

All four testified yesterday, as did Carolyn Brown-Coby, secretary of
Boyd-Booth Concerned Citizens. She has lived in the Boyd-Booth community
for 14 years and said it has a problem with illegal drug sales.

But Brown-Coby gave Wei the benefit of the doubt, saying she might have
been duped into selling the bags without knowing they were illegal. "I just
hope she stops selling them," Brown-Coby said.

David Kim, vice president of the Korean-American Grocers and Licensed
Beverage Foundation of Maryland, said he thinks Wei might have had some
knowledge of the bags' use, but said the fine is too steep. He said Wei
doesn't have $8,000 and that her attorney, Melvin Kodenski, might appeal.