DANBURY, Conn. — With assistance from state agencies, members of the Danbury Police Department took enforcement action on four local vape shops in the city on March 27, the department said.
Star Rose on Mill Ridge Road, The Smoke Lab on Main Street, CT Smoke House Inc. on Mill Plain Road and Cloud House on Newton Road were all found to be in violation. Authorities had received citizen complaints, primarily from the parents of minors, that the locations were selling THC products and vapes to their children, police said.
In a joint operation with the state’s Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Revenue Services, and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, four shops were inspected for compliance. Police investigators found that The Smoke Lab was selling “illegal marijuana” to some of its customers, police said.
Police said enforcement action has previously been taken against Star Rose and Cloud House.
On March 27, the compliance check discovered that Star Rose made an illegal sale of marijuana that morning. The location was found to have a sizable amount of illicit THC products, including bud, oil, and edibles, police said.
The weight and levels of the seized items had not been calculated as of Thursday, but the raw flower was estimated to be greater than the equivalent of 30 pounds. Police also seized CPD packaged products with THC concentrations beyond allowable levels.
At Star Rose, the evidence discovered revealed that the shop was “operating as a drug factory, where illicit product was being weighted, processed and packed for sale,” police said.
CT Smoke House made an illegal sale of tobacco products to an underage individual, police said, adding that the shop was found to have more than 26.74 raw flower equivalent pounds of illicit THC products such as flower, oil and edibles. Police also seized CBD packaged products with THC concentrations beyond allowable levels from the location.
Cloud House also sold tobacco products to an underage person illegally and was found to have more than 35.19 raw flower equivalent pounds of illicit THC products, including flower, oil and edibles, police said. Police also found and took CBD packaged products with THC concentration beyond allowable levels.
The Smoke Lab illegally sold marijuana and sold tobacco products to an underage person, police said, adding that the shop was found to have more than 21.7 raw flower equivalent pounds of illicit THC products such as bud, oil and cannabis, police said.
Also seized from the location were CBD packaged products with THC concentration beyond allowable levels, and police said evidence found at the shop revealed it was operating as a drug factory, where the illicit product was being weighted, processed, and packaged for sale.
RELATED: Man arrested in Vernon allegedly found with crack cocaine, fentanyl-laced marijuana and more
The investigation into the four shops is ongoing, but two arrests were made, including Brianna Rosario from the Smoke Lab and Ahmed Himed from Star Rose.
Rosario, 24, of Danbury, is charged with sale of a narcotic substance, possession with intention to sell less than one kilo of cannabis, and operating a drug factory.
Himed, 21, of Danbury, faces the same charges.
Danbury police noted that they have performed many compliance checks in the past, which have resulted in the seizure of pounds of marijuana, including bud and other THC products, and other illicit products equaling several thousand dollars in value.
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
