SOUTHINGTON — Four smoke shop owners at three businesses in town have been arrested after investigators found large quantities of marijuana packaged for sale, officials say.
In a news release, the Southington Police Department said officers were notified about the sale of vape products to underage people and the sale of THC products from several smoke shops located in town.
After an initial investigation, police said, detectives were able to secure three separate search warrants for the smoke shops, which were executed on May 14 with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Drug Control Division.
Police said the search of Puff City on Queen Street turned up 467 packages of THC products. They said 39 pounds of marijuana and $1,412 in cash was also seized there.
At Cigar N Vape on North Main Street, police said, investigators seized 329 packages of THC products, consisting of about 24 pounds of marijuana, and $341.
Police said the search at K&M Smoke Shop on the Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike found 219 packages of marijuana products, weighing about 14 pounds. Police said they seized the drugs as well as about $300.
Based on what they found when executing the search warrants, police said, investigators applied for arrest warrants for four people, who each owned one of the businesses.
Police said Torun Okten was arrested on Tuesday and charged with possession with intent to sell more than 1 kilogram of cannabis and possession of more than 8 ounces of cannabis or related product. They said he is being held on a $30,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in the Superior Court in New Britain on July 24.
Hasmit Kharbanda was arrested on June 25, police said, and was charged with the same offenses as Okten. According to court documents, he was released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in the Superior Court in New Britain on July 15.
Police said Mohamed Alwishah was arrested on June 21 and charged with the same offenses. According to court documents, he was released on a $5,000 bond and was arraigned in the same court on Monday.
Khaled Ahmed was arrested on June 12 and charged with possession with intent to sell more than 1 kilogram of cannabis and possession of more than 8 ounces of cannabis. Court documents report he was released on a $5,000 bond, arraigned in the Superior Court in New Britain and will enter a plea there on Aug. 9.
