An inspection of a marijuana shop on the Lower East Side revealed 13 pounds of crack cocaine.
Photos courtesy of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Drug Crimes of the City of New York
During a government inspection of a Lower East Side tobacco shop on Friday, officers allegedly seized 13 pounds of crack cocaine. Officers from the Sheriff’s Joint Task Force arrested the person standing behind the counter at 20 Clinton Street after making the discovery in the back of the store.
New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban and New York Special Narcotics Attorney Bridget G. Brennan announced the arrest of store clerk Mazen Tahhan, who law enforcement authorities believe To be an employee and not the owner of the store, after he was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court over the weekend.
According to a spokesman for the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Drug Offenses, the arrest is a special case in the city’s fight against the proliferation of unlicensed cannabis shops. It is not usual for the Special Prosecutor’s Office to be involved in inspections of cannabis shops, nor for officers to seize drugs during these visits – in this case, allegedly several kilos of crack cocaine.
The special counsel’s stated mission is to pursue high-level drug trafficking organizations and distribution systems. Brennan, the agency’s head, said in a statement that “the case demonstrates the importance of a concerted effort to curb the proliferation of illegal cannabis shops,” adding that the agency will continue to investigate whether cannabis shops are hiding narcotics.
“When unlicensed cannabis operators allegedly violate the law, they pose a risk to the public safety and health of our communities and destabilize the legal industry,” Caban said. “The NYPD and our partners on the Task Force will continue to use all available resources to enforce existing regulations and, most importantly, protect New Yorkers from all types of illegal drugs.”
According to police, Tahhan was the only person in the store, where packaging for cannabis products and accessories was openly and visibly displayed.
When officers entered an office in the back of the store, they reported discovering a large amount of alleged crack cocaine. The office also allegedly contained scales and other narcotics packaging materials. Officers seized the keys to the store and $1,876 in cash from Tahhan.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor for Drug Crimes charged Tahhan with first- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
As the investigation continued, a field test by the New York Police Department identified the seized narcotics as cocaine. Tahhan was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on August 10, where a judge set bail at $50,000 cash or $150,000.
