City police arrested three employees at three separate convenience stores this week for selling cannabis without a license, the latest in a crackdown on illegal marijuana sales, officials said.
The first arrest took place Tuesday at VP Snack and Soda 108 Varieties and Deli on Connecticut Avenue, according to Sgt. Ryan Evarts of the Norwalk Police Department.
Evarts said store employee Mohamed Salem Yaghla, 34, of New York, was charged with possession with intent to sell 1kg or more of cannabis and the illegal sale or manufacture of cannabis. He said Yaghla was held on $6,500 bond and given a court date of Jan. 28.
Evarts said police also seized illegal edible THC products in various name brands and packaging, $1,473 in cash and several pounds of edibles and flower cannabis products from the store.
Police conducted an additional raid on Wednesday at the Sono One Stop on Washington Street where they arrested store employee Mohamed Ali Zaiden, 45, of Norwalk, Evarts said.
Evarts said Zaiden was charged with two counts of illegal sale or manufacture of cannabis and one court of use or possession of drug paraphernalia. He said Zaiden was held on $6,500 bond and given a court date of Jan. 29.
Evarts said police also seized pre-rolls, THC flower pouches, THC flower canisters, scales, numerous baggies, THC vape products, THC resin products, THC edible products and $691 in cash from the store.
Police on Wednesday also visited R&R Smoke Shop and Convenience on Main Street where officers arrested store employee Abdellahi Ahmedou-Touh, 23, of Norwalk, Evarts said.
Evarts said Ahmedou-Touh was charged with possession with intent to sell 1kg or more of cannabis, sale of 1 kg or more of cannabis, use or possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal sale or manufacture of cannabis. He said Ahmedou-Touh was held on $150,000 bond and given a court date of Jan. 29.
Evarts said police seized illegal THC vape products, illegal THC edible products, vacuum seal bags, empty aluminum packaging baggies in various brands commonly used to package cannabis products, marijuana flower cannabis and $1,565 in cash.
Ahmedou-Touh was arrested in connection with similar offenses at the same store last month after police received a tip that the store was selling pure marijuana and products with more THC than legally permitted.
The arrests are part of a wider joint investigation into local non-licensed cannabis sales by the police department’s special services division and the State of Connecticut Drug Control Division.
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