Assemblymember John Zaccaro Jr.'s Statement On NYC Sheriff's Second Round of Smoke Shop Raids

New York County Sheriff's Department and Assemblymember John Zaccaro Jr.'s Office Successfully Conduct Second Raid on Smoke Shops Selling Illegal Tobacco and Cannabis Products

On Monday, September 18, 2023, the New York County Sheriff's office conducted another successful round of targeted raids on businesses along White Plains Road in the Pelham Parkway area suspected of illegally selling tobacco and cannabis products. This was the second round of targeted raids in our district in recent weeks. This raid took place at the Pelham Bay Convenience Corporation (2180 White Plains Road) and Hookah Zone Convenience Inc. (634 Morris Park Ave). 

This round of inspections resulted in the following penalties:

• Five (5) arrests
• Criminal possession of a weapon
• Four (4) notice of violations with 21 violations and 135 counts of violations
• An estimated $153,600  in penalties 
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance (cocaine)

Seized products from the most current round of inspections include: 

• Flavored vape products
• Packages of THC flower weighing 31.46lbs
• THC pre-rolls weighing a total of 8.45lbs
• THC edibles weighing a total of 46.07lbs
• Mushroom products including chocolate bars and liquid containers with other hallucinogenic ingredients
• Packages of other tobacco products

Over the past few months, my office has been contacted by concerned constituents offering invaluable tips about how these businesses have been circumventing the law.  The information gathered was quickly turned over to the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the New York County Sheriff's office for further investigation. 

I want to thank the constituents who reached out and the dedicated men and women of the New York County Sheriff's Office for their incredible work. These raids are a testament to the positive outcomes produced when elected representatives, residents, and community organizations work hand-in-hand.   Together, we'll continue to demonstrate our iron sense of purpose: Making our community a safe place for all.