NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Law enforcement officials seized tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cannabis and hundreds of packages of cannabis products when they shuttered an unlicensed pot shop in Forest Hills on Friday, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced.
Surveillance operations revealed the ongoing illegal sale of cannabis and related products through a roll-down steel gate at The Smoke House, located at 103-17 Queens Blvd. Prosecutors said that at about 8 p.m. every night, the store’s gate opened and customers entered to purchase the illicit products displayed inside.
The NYPD joined the New York City Sheriff’s Office and Katz’s Detective Bureau at about 8 p.m. on Jan. 10 to search the store.
Officers recovered 31.8 pounds of cannabis flower; hundreds of packages of cannabis gummies, flavored vapes, THC vapes, pre-rolls and edibles; $4,713 in cash; and brass knuckles.
Since November 2022, 313 people have been prosecuted for felony related-charges for the sale or possession of cannabis or controlled substances in Queens, and more than $25 million in products have been seized from suspect illegal cannabis dispensaries in Queens County.
“Our communities, particularly our children, must remain safe from the dangers posed by unlicensed, unregulated [cannabis] products in our neighborhoods” Katz said. “These illicit dispensaries not only evade tax obligations but also jeopardize the livelihood of licensed sellers who adhere to safety and compliance standards.”
A total of 272 unlicensed cannabis shops in Queens County have been padlocked since July 2024 with the assistance of the sheriff’s office and NYPD.