Adams Administration Has Sealed Over 1,200 Illegal Locations, Seized an Estimated $80 Million of Illegal Products
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon, and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today celebrated the transportation of more than 1,200 pounds of illegal vape products out of New York City as they are shipped off for destruction. The products — all seized through the Adams administration’s successful “Operation Padlock to Protect” — contain batteries and other hazardous materials that must be disposed of safely. The products are being sent to the NYPD’s long-term DNA evidence destruction vendor, ENP Environmental, in Grafton, Ohio.
As a result of the operation’s rapid success, the city has seized more than $80 million in illegal products, which have been taking up an outsized amount of space across NYPD’s network of evidence warehouses. Mayor Adams, today, joined members of the New York City Sherriff's Joint Compliance Task Force — made up of the Sheriff’s Office, the NYPD, and DCWP — to participate in NYPD’s standard evidence destruction process of loading illegal substances and products to be sent to destruction in an environmentally-responsible way. Upon seizure, untaxed and illegally sold tobacco and vape products are subject to forfeiture, and ultimately may be destroyed by the city.
In August, Mayor Adams and the task force destroyed more than four tons, or 576 bags, of seized, illegal cannabis products as part of the NYPD’s standard evidence destruction process of incinerating illegal substances and products in an environmentally-responsible way.
“Today, we say goodbye and good riddance to products that endanger our children and undermine our quality of life,” said Mayor Adams. “From the moment we were given the additional authority we needed from the state to weed out illegal cannabis operators, our administration took swift action. Through our successful ‘Operation Padlock to Protect’ initiative, we have already shut down more than 1,200 unlicensed smoke shops, confiscated an estimated $80 million worth of illegal products, and seized thousands of illegal vapes. This is a major example of the significant results we are achieving in improving New Yorkers’ quality of life and builds on the gains we’ve made in keeping communities safe. Last month alone saw a decrease in homicides, robberies, burglaries, grand larcenies, transit crime, and car theft, but we know there is still more to do. Our administration will continue to focus on our mission of making New York City a safer, more affordable city, and today’s announcement is another example of just that.”
“The Sheriff's Office will continue to work with our partner agencies to remove unlicensed and unregulated flavored vapes from the shelves of our communities, continuing the fight to protect our youth,” said Sheriff Miranda. “We are glad that the NYPD is destroying these products in an eco-friendly manner consistent with the policy and practice of the Sheriff’s Office.”
“The NYPD and our task force colleagues are dedicated to enforcing laws, holding accountable those who break them, and protecting the health of everyone we serve, especially our youth,” said NYPD Interim Commissioner Donlon. “Through these operations, we successfully achieve each of these goals while improving the quality of life for New Yorkers. Our ongoing efforts serve as a model of effective collaboration, and I commend all those involved for their unwavering commitment to public safety.”
“Safeguarding the health and safety of our neighbors, especially our youth, is our top priority,” said DCWP Commissioner Mayuga. “The illegal sale of cannabis products jeopardizes the well-being of all New Yorkers. I take pride in the ongoing collaboration between DCWP and our partner agencies as we work tirelessly to bring unlicensed businesses from our communities into compliance and ensure a safer environment for everyone.”
Following Mayor Adams’ successful advocacy in Albany for municipalities to be given the regulatory authority by the state to finally shut down illegal cannabis and smoke shops plaguing city streets, New York City moved quickly to execute its legal authority, and accelerated its steady enforcement. With the newly granted local authority, the Adams administration has executed a five-borough strategy to finally end this public health and safety issue.
Operation Padlock to Protect systematically conducts joint operations — which include inspections and follow-up inspections — in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. When illegal stores are ordered to be sealed, officers from local NYPD precincts monitor those locations to ensure compliance and to alert the Sheriff’s Office when violations of a sealing order occur.
Record-high closures build on praise by New Yorkers, who join the administration in prioritizing decisive action against this public-safety and quality-of-life nuisance. Operation Padlock to Protect is another 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.
The legalization of cannabis is intended to create a new economy to emerge in New York state, while addressing the harmful impact of the “War on Drugs” on Black and Brown New Yorkers. For New York City’s new cannabis economy and justice-involved businesses to thrive, the city and state must protect the development of the legal market. To do so, the Adams administration launched Cannabis NYC, under the New York City Department of Small Business Services, to provide free resources and services for all New Yorkers interested in the cannabis industry. Cannabis NYC has already engaged over 10,000 New Yorkers on its five borough “Lift Off! Cannabis NYC” public education, listening, and outreach tour and over 400 New Yorkers have participated in the FastTrac for Cannabis Entrepreneurs sessions, which connects legal cannabis business owners and entrepreneurs with free, high-quality training and advice delivered by leading voices in the legal cannabis industry. Recently, the Adams administration launched a $2 million Cannabis NYC Loan Fund, offering up to $100,000 to legal operators who have a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries (CAURD) license.
The Adams administration has also taken specific actions to combat illegal vaping devices, and particularly, its effects on youth. In July of 2023, the administration announced that the City of New York had filed a federal lawsuit against several distributors of illegal flavored vapes, including the nation’s largest vape distributor. In April 2024, the administration announced a second lawsuit against 11 local wholesalers, which has now been transferred to federal court. Both actions target distributors for their part in the illegal sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes, the most popular vaping devices among middle school and high school youth. Both cases are proceeding.
“I was proud to mobilize New Yorkers across all 5 boroughs to pass my SMOKEOUT Act in the State budget, authorizing the city to shut down illegal smoke shops for good. Illegal flavored e-cigarettes were among the stores’ many dangerous products, which they marketed to children with bright packaging and candy flavors,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “Once I passed my bill, Mayor Adams sprung into action with the spectacularly successful 'Operation Padlock to Protect,’ closing over 1,100 shops in a matter of months. Today's destruction of 1,246 pounds of illegal vaping products will save thousands of our children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction and lung damage - proof positive that we are winning the war on illegal smoke shops. This demonstrates what we can achieve when all levels of government come together to address the issues facing New Yorkers.”
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