MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES 75 ILLEGAL SMOKE AND CANNABIS SHOPS ORDERED CLOSED, NEARLY $6 MILLION IN PENALTIES, AND OVER 3,800 COUNTS OF VIOLATIONS ISSUED DURING FIRST WEEK OF “OPERATION PADLOCK TO PROTECT”

 

Multi-Agency Operation Kicked Off Last Week Across All Five Boroughs to Hold Illegal Smoke and Cannabis Shops Accountable 

 

150 Establishments Inspected, Resulting in 75 Illegal Locations Sealed,  3,878 Counts of Violations, and Over $5.9 Million in Penalties 

 

New Yorkers Praise Mayor Adams’ Commitment to Closing Illegal Smoke and Cannabis Shops  

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the results of week one of “Operation Padlock to Protect” — a sustained multi-agency enforcement action to shut down illegal smoke and cannabis shops across the five boroughs. In the first week of enforcement, the New York City Sherriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force — made up of members from the Sheriff’s Office, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) — sealed 75 locations and issued nearly $6 million in penalties. The Sherriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force conducted operations on May 4, 7, 9, and 11.   

 

“Week one of ‘Operation Padlock to Protect,’ reaffirms what we’ve long said: With the backing of legal authority behind us, our administration will act swiftly to combat illegal cannabis and smoke shop operators,” said Mayor Adams. “For too long, illegal operators have posed a threat to our children, our public safety, and our quality of life, and they have undermined those justice-involved, legal businesses that are trying to succeed. With this coordinated and sustained multi-agency enforcement, we will help usher in a thriving, safe, and just legal cannabis market that our city deserves while protecting our city’s children, families, and vibrant business districts from being subjected to these brazen storefronts.” 

 

Following Mayor Adams’ successful advocacy in Albany for municipalities to be given the regulatory authority by the state to finally shut down illegal shops plaguing city streets, New York City moved quickly to execute its legal authority, and will accelerate that execution in the coming weeks. The Sherriff's Joint Compliance Task Force systematically conducts joint operations in neighborhoods across the five boroughs, which includes inspections and follow-up inspections. When operators are ordered to be sealed, local NYPD precincts monitor those locations to ensure compliance and alert the Sheriff’s Office when violations of the seal order occur. The NYPD can also make arrests for violating the sheriff’s closure orders. ‘Operation Padlock to Protect’ is an example of the Adams administration’s efforts to double down on its commitment to swiftly shut down illegal operators, protect the city’s children, improve quality of life, and facilitate a safe and thriving legal cannabis market. 

 

In its first week of operations, the Sherriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force conducted 150 inspections of unlicensed locations in the vicinity of schools or houses of worship allegedly selling cannabis, THC edibles, THC vape, untaxed cigarettes, flavored tobacco, flavored vapes, or other tobacco products in the confines of the NYPD’s eight borough commands. Inspections resulted in:  

 

•    77 cease and desist orders and 75 shops sealed.  

•    370 notices of violations holding 3,878 counts of violations across NYPD, DCWP, and the Sheriff’s Office.  
•    More than $5,960,000 in civil penalties issued.   

 

Parents, businesses, elected officials, community groups, criminal justice advocates, and more have been alarmed by the scourge of illegal operators in every neighborhood across New York City and applaud the Adams administration’s decisive action.  

 

Mayor Adams and law enforcement officials address members of the New York City Sherriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force before they begin “Operation Padlock to Protect.”  

Members of law enforcement seize illegal cannabis being sold during a raid as part of “Operation Padlock to Protect.”

Sheriff Miranda and members of law enforcement padlock a store unlawfully selling cannabis last week during “Operation Padlock to Protect.” 

“I was proud to deliver a historic victory for the City of New York when my SMOKEOUT Act passed in the state budget,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar.  “Now, the city has the authority to use its full manpower to shut down illegal shops for good. These past few months, I launched 'Operation: SMOKEOUT' that brought New Yorkers together across all five boroughs with the common cause of shutting down these shops. I am grateful to Mayor Adams for his support. Parents, children, business owners, and community leaders all stepped up and spoke out. The inclusion of SMOKEOUT Act in the budget was a win for public safety, common sense, and the health of our children. The people have spoken, and Albany has listened. I look forward to joining Sheriff Miranda on raids of smoke shops across our city so we can smoke ‘em out and shut them down for good.”