Photo Courtesy of DA Katz’s Office
Some of the illegal products seized last week.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Friday announced the takedown of three illegal cannabis operations resulting in the arrest of five individuals who were charged in connection with their roles in allegedly operating an illegal smoke shop in Ozone Park located directly across the street from a middle school and illegal mobile marijuana dispensaries from two trucks in Astoria.
Nasser Gamil, 44, of 101st Avenue in Ozone Park, and Abdulwahab Alabi, 32, of Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park were charged with criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. If convicted, the defendants each face up to two and half years in prison.
According to the charges, Gamil and Alabi sold cannabis and controlled substances from inside the 101 Deli and Grocery at 92-15 101st Ave. in Ozone Park, less than 200 feet from MS 210 the Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School.
During a joint operation with the DEA, undercover investigators conducted a controlled delivery to the defendants at the 101 Deli and Grocery of a shipping pallet containing cannabis and controlled substances from Los Angeles.
The following was seized:
- More than 28 pounds of cannabis flower
- More than six pounds of individually packaged edible psylocibin, a hallucinogen also known as “magic mushrooms”
- More than 1,600 individually wrapped pre-rolled cannabis joints
- Dozens of boxes of edible cannabis gummies
Additionally, Lara Paola, 32, of Jackson Heights, Tanik Kerr, 42, of Hempstead, L.I., and Edgar Niyazov, 30, of Rego Park, were each charged Thursday with criminal possession of cannabis in the third degree, unlawful sale of cannabis, and unlicensed general vending. The defendants each face up to 364 days in jail if convicted.
According to the charges, Paola operated an unlicensed mobile cannabis dispensary called “All The Smoke,” on the corner of 30th Avenue and 33rd Street in Astoria. Kerr and Niyazov operated an unlicensed mobile cannabis dispensary called “Canna Depot,” on the corner of Broadway and 34th Street in Astoria.
During the investigation, undercover detectives from District Attorney Katz’s office made numerous controlled purchases of cannabis from each of the trucks on multiple occasions.
On May 3, detectives from the District Attorney’s office, along with NYPD officers, executed search warrants at each of the mobile dispensaries.
The following was recovered from the trucks, which were impounded:
- More than five pounds of cannabis flower, including hundreds of pre-rolled joints, blunts, resin, and oil
- Hundreds of packages of edible cannabis, such as gummies and candy bars in packaging resembling common consumer candy and snack products with names such as “Nerdz,” “Sno Capz,” “Wonka Bars,” and “Trolli”
- Dozens of cannabis vape “pens”
“Unlicensed sellers are undercutting legal vendors as they are just getting started, denying badly needed tax revenues for essential public services. The illegal outlets also are the focus of numerous community complaints, including for selling hallucinogens and edible marijuana products that have sickened young people and are marketed to children,” Katz said.
Currently, there are nine licensed adult recreational-use cannabis dispensaries open in New York State, including one in Jamaica. There are 40 State-authorized medical marijuana dispensaries, including three in Queens.
