Two men are facing charges after Norwalk police executed search and seizure warrants at two smoke shops and allegedly found illegal marijuana flower, THC products, and Kratom. The warrants are part of ongoing investigations into smoke shops suspected of selling cannabis without required state-issued licenses, according to the Norwalk Police Department.
“Under Connecticut law, the sale of products containing a total THC concentration greater than 0.3% requires a state-issued cannabis license,” police said. “Additionally, the sale of cannabis outside of a licensed dispensary is prohibited.”
On Oct. 20, the Special Services Division executed a warrant at Sono Vape and Tobacco at 82-85 Washington St. Officers allegedly located multiple packages of THC gummies and marijuana flower behind the sales counter, plus more products in plastic bags in the rear storage area.
Officers also inspected the cigarettes for sale to check for required tax stamps. “Of the more than 100 packs of cigarettes available for purchase, 50 were found to have fraudulent tax stamps,” according to police.
In total, police seized approximately 1.05 pounds of marijuana flower and THC products, 50 packs of cigarettes bearing fraudulent tax stamps, and $567 in U.S. currency.
The employee present at Sono Vape and Tobacco, identified as 46-year-old Mohamed Ali Zaidan of Norwalk, was taken into custody. Police said it marked Zaidan’s fourth arrest involving similar illegal marijuana sales.
Zaidan was charged with possession of fraudulent cigarette stamps, illegal sale of untaxed cigarette tax stamps, sale of marijuana, and possession of marijuana under 8 ounces. He was held on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov.
On Oct. 28, police executed a warrant at A-to-Z Tobacco Vape at 108 Connecticut Ave. The investigation followed a separate search at the same location in October, during which officers seized 12.5 pounds of marijuana products, 926 Kratom capsules, 8.3 ounces of liquid Kratom, and $2,896 in U.S. currency.
During the Oct. 28 search, officers found pop-top containers and pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes behind the counter, packaged and ready for sale.
Officers also discovered a concealed compartment behind what appeared to be an electrical box mounted on the wall, operated remotely by a magnetic device.
Inside the concealed compartment, officers allegedly discovered marijuana flower, THC cannabis products, and Kratom, which police described as a schedule one narcotic.
The Oct. 28 seizure totaled 10.2 pounds of marijuana flower and THC products, multiple packages of Kratom pills ranging from 120 mg to 1,800 mg, 33 2-fluid-ounce bottles of liquid Kratom, three 0.33-ounce packages of liquid Kratom, and $1,901 in U.S. currency.
The employee present during the earlier search, identified as 35-year-old Abdo A. Al-Areqi of Bronx, New York, was arrested and charged with sale of over 1kg of cannabis, sale of narcotic substance, possession of over 8 ounces of cannabis, and possession of controlled substance. He was held on a $150,000 bond and appeared in court on Oct.
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