By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Monday announced a sweeping enforcement action against six illegal cannabis storefronts in the borough.
Dubbed Operation Weed Whacker, the months-long investigation included undercover buys and resulted in the padlocking of each location, four arrests and the seizure of hundreds of pounds of illicit cannabis and tobacco products.
Mahmud Hossain, 24, of Queens Village, was arraigned last month on a criminal complaint charging him with criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree.
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
Illegal shops “pose a threat to community safety and to the individuals who purchase their products,” DA Katz said.
Michael Deblasio, 32, of Woodhaven, and Hemyar Naji, 34 of Brooklyn, were arraigned August 13 on a complaint charging them with criminal possession of cannabis in the second degree.
A fourth individual received a desk appearance ticket on Aug. 14.
The six locations that were searched and padlocked from July 16 through August 14 are:
- Hollis Convenience at 190-12 99th Ave. in Hollis
- Moonrocks at 46-06 Utopia Pkwy. in Flushing
- No Limit at 231-01b Linden Blvd. in Cambria Heights
- ZaZa Exotic (Linden Green Farms Inc.) at 231-07 Linden Blvd. in Cambria Heights
- Sunnyside Clouds at 45-03 40th St. in Sunnyside
- Fumes Puff at 41-25 Queens Blvd. in Sunnyside
A total of 130 pounds of cannabis flower, 110 pounds of cannabis vapes, 74 pounds of cannabis edibles and 173 pounds of illegal flavored tobacco vapes were seized from the six locations.
Since November 2022, enforcement operations have resulted in the prosecution of 445 individuals for felony-related charges related to the sale and/or possession of cannabis or controlled substances in Queens.
A total of 310 shops in Queens have been padlocked since July 2024 through the assistance of the City Sheriff’s Office and the NYPD.
“Illegal cannabis stores pose a threat to community safety and to the individuals who purchase their products,” Katz said. “My office, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to ensure compliance so that legitimate businesses can thrive and our neighbors, particularly young people, remain safe from the unregulated products sold by illegal shops.”
If convicted, Hossain faces a potential maximum of 2 1/3 to seven years in prison. Deblasio and Naji face a potential maximum of 1 1/3 to four years in prison.
