A store clerk was arrested when authorities raided a vape shop in Norwalk and allegedly found more than 10 pounds worth of marijuana products.
The raid was carried out Thursday at Kings Tobacco and Vape at 2 Main St., according to Lt. Tomasz Podgorski of the Norwalk Police Department.
Using a search and seizure warrant, the department’s Special Services Division reported finding about 10.75 pounds of marijuana products, including some that were in a large safe that was locked, Podgorski said. Authorities allegedly found 5.35 pounds of marijuana flower, 2.61 pounds of edible gummies, 2.79 pounds of THC vape products and $4,632, according to Podgorski.
Podgorski said police also found four canisters of nitrous oxide, which is commonly abused by inhaling it.
The employee who was working, 20-year-old Alzanam Belal Almutasim of Yonkers, New York, was taken into custody. He faces charges of violation of restricted substances, possession with intent to sell over 1kg of cannabis, possession of paraphernalia, sale of 1kg or more of cannabis, municipal vape shop ordinance violation and illegal sales of cannabis.
Almutasim’s bond was set at $10,000, and he is expected to face a judge on Nov. 17.
According to Podgorski, the raid was part of an ongoing investigation targeting smoke shops suspected of selling cannabis and cannabis products despite not being a licensed dispensary.
Two other vape shops in the city have been raided as many as five times recently in connection with similar investigations. The issue had led to city officials passing an ordinance earlier this year looking to crack down on shops that illegally sell marijuana without a license.
