A trio of Stratford smoke shops, all located within a short stretch of Barnum Avenue, were raided by police last week, resulting in the seizure of roughly 17 pounds of cannabis products and the arrest of five individuals tied to the businesses.
The shops — Star Smoke & Variety, On Your Way Convenience & Smoke Shop, and Loco Smoke Shop — share the same owner and sit less than half a mile apart. Police said the coordinated operation was the culmination of an investigation that began in August, involving Stratford detectives, Bridgeport officers, and state consumer protection agents.
Authorities executed search warrants around 1 p.m. on the day of the raids. Along with the cannabis products, officers confiscated more than $3,500 in cash and a Lexus sedan that investigators say was being used in connection with the operation.
One suspect, 26-year-old Anas Alsaedi, was arrested after being pulled over in the Lexus, which was found to have license plates belonging to a different vehicle. The store owner, 24-year-old Abdulrahman Essa, later turned himself in.
Also arrested were 33-year-old Rami Sawan, 25-year-old Raghavendra Tulluru, and 25-year-old Fu Munazza. Charges include conspiracy to sell over a kilogram of cannabis, running a drug factory, and illegally selling cannabis products without a license. Tulluru faces an additional charge for interfering with police.
All five suspects were released on $50,000 bonds and are scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on October 8.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
