NEW YORK CITY, NY - The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced that its officers seized nearly $10 million worth of narcotics in their most significant drug bust to date involving illegal cannabis products.
According to CBS News, police were investigating community complaints about illegal marijuana sales on Timpson Place in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx when they discovered the illegal drug operation.
Officials on scene, including Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Sheriff's Office, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, said that the unregulated and dangerous products, some packaged as candies and chocolates, were being distributed throughout the community.
In a statement, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda said, "We found, obviously flower, the cannabis flower. We found pre-rolls, but we also have found mushroom to hallucinogens, candies, chocolates, kids packaging. Everything that you can think of in terms of what the illicit, illegal market is distributing to our communities, we found at this location. A handgun was also recovered.
This location takes almost more than half a block in terms of the volume and space that it has back there. It has a social club, it has a usage place, packaging, distribution, everything is coming out of just one location."
According to the New York Post, the illicit warehouse doubled as a nightclub. Complaints from neighbors and a smoke shop inspection at another location led police to request a search warrant for the massive unmarked space that takes up half a block on Timpson Avenue and East 147th Street.
Miranda said, "This is probably the largest seizure we've taken so far. And again, this is just the distribution, so that's how much product they have flowing through this one location." The space was being used for storage and packaging of the drugs when it was not being used as a nightclub. He added, "It's a distribution place and it had people coming in and using the product on-site."
After the bust, Adams said that the Bronx warehouse is a sign of how extensive illegal cannabis operations in the city have become. He added, "It just goes to show you it's more than just the places where the signs are located. It is hidden in every part of our city and communities. And we're going to find it and destroy it."
According to Fabien Levy, Adams' deputy mayor for communications, four people were arrested in connection to the drug bust. The Timpson Place drug bust was the latest in a citywide enforcement initiative called "Operation Padlock to Protect." The week prior, city officials said NYPD seized cannabis products worth an estimated $1 million in the Bronx.
The investigation along East Tremont Avenue led to the seizure of 176 pounds of cannabis flower, less than one pound of THC vape products and edibles. Investigators also said they found a warehouse nearby. Part of Operation Padlock to Protect includes encouraged New Yorkers to submit complaints if they become aware of suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
Police began systematically shutting down the city's roughly 3,400 illegal marijuana shops after the state legislature earlier this year granted local police the authority to padlock the shops for up to a year immediately after an inspection. According to the mayor's office, as of early July, the task force had shut down 535 illicit shops, seizing $17.5 million in illegal cannabis product and shelled out over $43 million in civil penalties.
Miranda said that after finding an illegal store, investigators pour over paperwork, such as shipping documents or false licenses in an effort to identify bigwig dealers or make connections to other illegal shops.
According to CBS News, police were investigating community complaints about illegal marijuana sales on Timpson Place in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx when they discovered the illegal drug operation.
Officials on scene, including Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Sheriff's Office, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, said that the unregulated and dangerous products, some packaged as candies and chocolates, were being distributed throughout the community.
In a statement, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda said, "We found, obviously flower, the cannabis flower. We found pre-rolls, but we also have found mushroom to hallucinogens, candies, chocolates, kids packaging. Everything that you can think of in terms of what the illicit, illegal market is distributing to our communities, we found at this location. A handgun was also recovered.
This location takes almost more than half a block in terms of the volume and space that it has back there. It has a social club, it has a usage place, packaging, distribution, everything is coming out of just one location."
According to the New York Post, the illicit warehouse doubled as a nightclub. Complaints from neighbors and a smoke shop inspection at another location led police to request a search warrant for the massive unmarked space that takes up half a block on Timpson Avenue and East 147th Street.
Miranda said, "This is probably the largest seizure we've taken so far. And again, this is just the distribution, so that's how much product they have flowing through this one location." The space was being used for storage and packaging of the drugs when it was not being used as a nightclub. He added, "It's a distribution place and it had people coming in and using the product on-site."
After the bust, Adams said that the Bronx warehouse is a sign of how extensive illegal cannabis operations in the city have become. He added, "It just goes to show you it's more than just the places where the signs are located. It is hidden in every part of our city and communities. And we're going to find it and destroy it."
According to Fabien Levy, Adams' deputy mayor for communications, four people were arrested in connection to the drug bust. The Timpson Place drug bust was the latest in a citywide enforcement initiative called "Operation Padlock to Protect." The week prior, city officials said NYPD seized cannabis products worth an estimated $1 million in the Bronx.
The investigation along East Tremont Avenue led to the seizure of 176 pounds of cannabis flower, less than one pound of THC vape products and edibles. Investigators also said they found a warehouse nearby. Part of Operation Padlock to Protect includes encouraged New Yorkers to submit complaints if they become aware of suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
Police began systematically shutting down the city's roughly 3,400 illegal marijuana shops after the state legislature earlier this year granted local police the authority to padlock the shops for up to a year immediately after an inspection. According to the mayor's office, as of early July, the task force had shut down 535 illicit shops, seizing $17.5 million in illegal cannabis product and shelled out over $43 million in civil penalties.
Miranda said that after finding an illegal store, investigators pour over paperwork, such as shipping documents or false licenses in an effort to identify bigwig dealers or make connections to other illegal shops.
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Comments
2024-07-23T18:27-0500 | Comment by: James
Don't mean nothin folks .... It's ALL headed right back out on the street .... The NYpd pigs will see to that ........