The Jersey City Police Department recovered 16 pounds of marijuana, 400,000 THC doses, and over $9,000 cash as part of a smoke shop crackdown that led to five arrests and 26 summonses, as well as five establishments being closed.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This was a precision, multi-agency enforcement effort built on intelligence, community complaints, and strong investigative work,” added Acting Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.
“We are not only shutting down illegal operations, we are dismantling the networks behind them and holding bad actors accountable for their actions.”
In addition, a significant volume of illegal THC and vape products were confiscated, including 106 illegal THC flavored vape products, eight illegal flavored vape products
55 adulterated food items, and 23 pouches of candy-style THC, authorities said.
310 THC-infused gummy packages, five mushroom-infused bars, and14 jars of 10,000mg THC gummies were also recovered.
Health officials estimate that the recovered gummies alone represent approximately 400,000 individual 10mg THC doses, a volume exceeding what would be reasonably expected for legal distribution and underscoring the scale of the illegal operation.
The summonses were issued for violations including unlicensed smoke shop operations, illegal sales of flavored vape products, adulterated food products, unauthorized cannabis establishment activity, prohibited window coverage, and maintaining a nuisance.
Numerous controlled dangerous substance (CDS) distribution-related paraphernalia items were also recovered during the searches.
“This joint operation sends a clear message that unregulated smoke shops selling illicit and potentially dangerous products will not be tolerated,” added DEA New Jersey Field Division Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James.
“These businesses often operate outside the law, putting unknown substances into our communities. We will continue to work with our partners to shut down these illegal operations.”
The five establishments shut down as a result of the operation are Paper & Grabba Tobacco at 164.5 Martin Luther King Drive, Da Spot Smoke Shop at 92 Martin Luther King Drive,
Highline Premium at 40 Martin Luther King Drive, All Stars Smoke Shop at 152 Danforth Ave, and Duncan Smokes at 180 Duncan Ave.
The investigation was led by the JCPD Quality of Life Unit, with support from the DEA.
Day-of operations and the execution of warrants included assistance from the following agencies: JCPD Street Crimes Unit, South and West District Patrol Units, Emergency Service Unit, Municipal Prosecutor’s Office, Office of Code Compliance, Department of Health & Human Services, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and Hudson County Consumer Affairs.
The Jersey City Health, Fire, and Code Compliance Departments, along with the Hudson County Consumer Protection Unit and the Department of Weights and Measures, issued additional violations across all 5 locations.
The investigation remains active, with additional enforcement actions possible.
The Jersey City PD continues to encourage residents to report suspicious activity by contacting the Jersey City Police Department or submitting tips anonymously via email at policetips@njjcps.org or by calling 855-JCP-TIPS.