State closes 5 smoke shops in St. Lawrence County for illegal marijuana

OGDENSBURG, New York (WWNY) – Five unlicensed cannabis shops in St. Lawrence County were shut down on Thursday. That’s according to county District Attorney Gary Pasqua.

In a news release, he said the businesses “were raided in a coordinated operation executed by multiple law enforcement agencies.”

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management shuttered the following shops:

• Smoker’s Corner – 985 Route 11, Gouverneur. Pasqua said 53-year-old Paramjit Singh of Chadwicks, New York, was arrested for possessing cannabis flower weighing approximately 2.3 pounds, concentrated cannabis weighing approximately 6.5 pounds, and 12 psilocybin bars. Also seized was $4,770 in cash.
• Luxury Smoke – 101 East Main Street, Gouverneur. The DA said 25-year-old Amr Al Badani of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested for possessing approximately 20 ounces of cannabis flower as well as approximately 20 ounces of concentrated cannabis. Also seized was $909 in cash.
• West Coast Exocita – 428 State Street, Ogdensburg. Officials said they seized concentrated cannabis, including gummies, vapes, and wax weighing approximately 21 pounds, cannabis flower weighing approximately 3.5 pounds, 30 psilocybin bars, and $7,215 in cash.
• Smokey Joe’s – 308 Isabella Street, Ogdensburg. Seized at that location were concentrated cannabis, including gummies vapes, and wax totaling approximately 157.5 grams, cannabis flower weighing approximately 2.5 pounds, and $905 in cash.
• Canton Convenience Shop – 71 Main Street, Canton (See our earlier report here.)

Singh was arraigned and sent to the St. Lawrence County Jail without bail.

All other defendants were either issued an appearance ticket or arraigned and released with future court dates.

Investigations are ongoing and further arrests and charges are pending.

Pasqua said members of the community had reported marijuana, vapes, and hallucinogenic substances were being sold to minors.

Members of the St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Canton Police Department, Gouverneur Police Department, Ogdensburg Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Border Patrol, and the DA’s office took part in the raids.

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