STRATFORD — Stratford police arrested multiple people at two smoke shops that they said illegally were selling marijuana without a state license, including to minors at one of the businesses.
The smoke shop reported to have been selling marijuana to minors was Cream Smoke Shop on Ferry Boulevard.
Stratford police with the department’s Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit “had recently received information that underage juveniles were purchasing cannabis and THC products” there, police Capt. Jerry Pinto said in a news release. The unit conducted four undercover purchases of “cannabis material,” resulting in a search warrant being executed at the business Thursday, Pinto said.
The business is not licensed with the state to sell or distribute marijuana or THC products, Pinto said.
Law enforcement officers seized 60 pounds of marijuana and THC material during the search, Pinto said, along with $7,000 in cash.
The second smoke shop accused of illegally selling marijuana by Stratford police, S&T Smoke Shop on Honeyspot Road, was investigated by the Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit starting in May, Pinto said. They were assisted by other agencies, including the Bridgeport DEA task force, and the state’s Department of Consumer Protection, Department of Revenue Service and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Stratford police said four people were charged at Cream Smoke Shop and three were arrested at S&T Smoke Shop as a result of the investigations.
In the Cream smoke shop investigation, Phillip Giacobbe, 27, Byron Fernandez, 33, Ariel Martinez, 30, and Virack Korng, 38, each are charged with possession with intent to sell a kilogram or more of cannabis, conspiracy to possess with intent to sell one kilogram or more of cannabis and operation of a drug factory.
At S&T Smoke Shop, Scott Marsillo, 31, is charged with sale of a controlled non-narcotic substance; Raian Baniyounes 35, is charged with two counts illegal sale or distribution of cannabis or a cannabis product and two counts of conspiracy to sell or distribute cannabis or a cannabis product. Brion Henry Jr., 22, is charged with four counts illegal possession with intent to sell cannabis or cannabis products and conspiracy to sell cannabis or cannabis products.
H/T: www.ctpost.com
