Southington, CT. – A months-long investigation into illegal sales of vape and THC products has led to the arrest of four men by police.
In April 2024, the Southington Police Department was alerted by concerned members of the public as well as the Southington STEPS coalition regarding the sale of vape products to minors and THC products at several smoke shops in the city.
The department's Special Investigations Unit conducted an extensive investigation, resulting in the issuance of three separate search warrants for local smoke shops.
On May 14, 2024, these warrants were executed with the assistance of the Detective Division, Patrol Division of the Southington Police Department as well as the Drug Control Division of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
During this operation, a search warrant was executed at Puff City, located at 244 Queen Street, where approximately 467 packages of THC products were seized. An approximate total weight of 17,7 kilograms of marijuana and $1 in cash were confiscated.
Another search warrant was executed at Cigar N Vape, located at 400 North Main Street, where approximately 329 packages of THC products were seized, representing an approximate total weight of 11 kilograms of marijuana and $341,50 in species.
Finally, a search warrant was executed at K&M Smoke Shop, located at 1672 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, where approximately 219 packages of THC products were seized, with an approximate total weight of 6,1 kilograms of marijuana and 299,92, $XNUMX in cash.
As a result of this investigation and the items seized, the Southington Police Special Investigations Unit obtained four arrest warrants for the owners of these establishments, signed by the New Britain Superior Court. The Southington Police Department thanks the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and the West Hartford Police Community Support Unit for their valuable assistance in this investigation.
Those arrested, Torun Okten, Hasmit Kharbanda, Mohamed Alwishah and Khaled Ahmed, are charged with possession with intent to sell and possession of cannabis or cannabis products.
