WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The West Hartford Police Department made six arrests at five smoke shops for illegally selling marijuana and THC products after nearly a year of investigating.
Police obtained warrants to search S Lab Premium Smoke Shop on New Park Avenue, Exotic Clouds Smoke Shop on New Britain Avenue, Bluemoon Smoke Shop on South Main Street, Privilege Smoke Shop on Park Road and Cigar N Vape on Sedgwick Road, leading to six arrests.
The search and seizure warrants were executed between December 2023 and October 2024 following the investigative efforts of the police department’s Community Support Unit. The unit received information that the shops were selling marijuana and THC products without proper licensing through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
RELATED: 28 pounds of marijuana, THC materials seized from CREAM Smoke Shop in Stratford
Police seized a large amount of raw unpackaged marijuana, packaged marijuana, illegal THC products such as vapes and edibles, cocaine, a .380 caliber Ruger LCP handgun and cash obtained from sale proceeds.
West Hartford police said the searches found a total of 130.21 pounds of marijuana (raw marijuana and THC equivalents), 113.3 grams of cocaine, 1.93 pounds of illegal mushrooms, $31,509 in cash and various packaging materials and drug paraphernalia.
The following six individuals were arrested:
Lorenzo Lebron, 21, was arrested at Exotic Clouds Smoke Shop. He is charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of cannabis, possession of more than five ounces of cannabis/cannabis equivalent on person first offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence and interfering with an officer.
Lebron was issued a $250,000 cash/surety bond and will appear in Hartford Superior Court on Thursday.
Amadou Bah, 28, was also arrested at Exotic Clouds Smoke Shop. He is charged with possession with intent to sell one kilogram or more of cannabis, possession of more than eight ounces of cannabis plant material, possession with intent to sell a hallucinogen (psilocybin mushrooms) and possession of a controlled substance (hallucinogen – psilocybin mushrooms).
Bah was released on a $15,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear next at Hartford Superior Court on April 9, 2025.
At Bluemoon Smoke Shop, 37-year-old Rana Afzal was arrested. He is charged with possession with intent to sell one kilogram or more of cannabis, possession of more than eight ounces of cannabis plant material, possession with intent to sell a hallucinogen (psilocybin mushrooms) and possession of a controlled substance (hallucinogen – psilocybin mushrooms).
Afzal was released on a $15,000 non-surety bond. His next scheduled court date at Hartford Superior Court is Nov. 13.
Jamie Santuchi, 37, was arrested at Privilege Smoke Shop and is charged with possession to sell one kilogram or more of cannabis and possession of more than eight ounces of cannabis plant material.
Santuchi was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond and will next appear at Hartford Superior Court on Nov. 21.
At S Lab Premium Smoke Shop, 39-year-old Michael Lawrence was arrested. He faces charges including possession with intent to sell more than one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cannabis, possession with intent to sell a narcotic, possession of a controlled substance first offense (cocaine) and possession of more than five ounces in a locked container or equivalent amount of cannabis/cannabis products.
H/T: www.fox61.com
