Mayor Adams, Sheriff Miranda, NYPD Commissioner Caban Announce Results of Major Illegal Cannabis Bust, Estimating $1 Million of Product Seized

July 17, 2024

Last Night's "Operation Padlock to Protect" Uncovered Two Operators
Illegally Selling and Packaging Cannabis for Distribution

Adams Administration Has Already Sealed 630+ Illegal Locations, Issued
$51 Million in Civil Penalties, and Seized an Estimated $20 Million of Illegal Products

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Edward Caban today announced the results of enforcement actions taken last night against two illegal cannabis operators warehousing illegal cannabis and other products in the Throgs Neck area of the Bronx. Led by the Sheriff's Joint Compliance Taskforce, the operation - part of "Operation Padlock to Protect" - shut down including a warehouse storing millions of dollars' worth of illegal cannabis and psilocybin products, and a smoke shop that was hiding cannabis products in their air vents.

"We have been clear: illegal smoke shops will no longer be able to operate with impunity," said Mayor Adams. "'Operation Padlock to Protect' has already shut down and padlocked over 630 illegal smoke shops, allowed us to seize over $20 million in illegal products, and impose more than $51 million in fines and penalties on those who continue to break the law. Our administration has achieved remarkable results over the last three months, and last night's raid on two major distributors and operators shows we will not stop until every illegal shop is held accountable. For too long, these shops have contributed to a feeling that anything goes in our city, but we are going to continue to shut down illegal shops and will ensure that the future of legal cannabis burns bright in New York City. I want to thank Sheriff Miranda and his team, as well as Commissioner Caban and the NYPD, for leading this operation."

"Unlicensed cannabis shops aren't just breaking the law -- they're threatening our neighborhoods," said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. "These shops undermine the legal market, evade taxes, attract robberies and shootings, and, most notably, threaten public safety by distributing products that haven't been tested or regulated. Our job is to protect the people of New York City, and we're doing that every day by shutting these illegal operators down."

"We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe from these unregulated and dangerous products," said Sheriff Miranda. "The information we obtain from the community via 3-1-1 complaints and from elected officials are critical to the success of 'Operation Padlock to Protect.'"

"The safe sale and distribution of legal cannabis in New York City requires a licensed, regulated, and standardized industry," said NYPD Commissioner Caban. "Illegal cannabis operators running afoul of the law are posing a public safety and health risk to our communities and are destabilizing the emerging legal industry. The NYPD and our task force partners will continue to use every resource available to enforce existing cannabis regulations and, most importantly, to protect New Yorkers."

Mayor Adams at the scene of one of the locations raided last night in the
Bronx as part of "Operation Padlock to Protect's" enforcement efforts.

Illegal cannabis being hidden in ceiling tiles at one of the locations
raided last night in the Bronx as part of "Operation Padlock to Protect."

Outside one of the locations raided last night in the Bronx as part of
"Operation Padlock to Protect's" enforcement efforts in the Bronx.

Mayor Adams at the scene of one of the locations raided last night in the
Bronx as part of "Operation Padlock to Protect's" enforcement efforts.

Product seized at one of the locations raided last night in the
Bronx as part of "Operation Padlock to Protect's" enforcement efforts.

Last night, while the Sheriff's Joint Compliance Task Force was conducting inspections at 51 locations throughout New York City, an inspection at 3770 E. Tremont Avenue in the Bronx resulted in the seizure of 176 pounds of cannabis flower, 0.6 pounds of THC Vape products, and psilocybin mushroom edibles. The cannabis flower was found in hidden compartments under a couch, covered by ceiling tiles, in filing cabinets, in luggage bags, and in plain view.

The inspection also uncovered a back door at a bodega at 4011 E. Tremont Avenue in the Bronx that led to a warehouse where deputies found pallets worth of cannabis flower, THC pre-rolls, THC vape products, THC concentrate, THC edibles, psilocybin edibles and psilocybin concentrate. The task force also found empty containers to pack products and a room that appeared to be set up to grow cannabis plants, leading law enforcement to suspect it is a likely distributor. The estimated total value, at this time, of products seized at the two sites during last night's raid is at least $1 million.

Following Mayor Adams' successful advocacy in Albany for municipalities to be given the regulatory authority by the state to finally shut down illegal smoke and cannabis shops plaguing city streets, New York City moved quickly to execute its legal authority, and accelerated its steady enforcement. With the newly granted local authority, the Adams administration has executed a five-borough strategy to finally end this public health and safety issue.

Since launching Operation Padlock to Protect - a multi-agency task force made up of members from the Sheriff's Office, the NYPD, and the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and Worker Protection - the Adams administration has sealed a total of 639shops and issued 32,392 counts of violations amounting to over $51 million in penalties. The city estimates it has seized a total value of over $20 million in illegal products. Record-high closures builds on praise by New Yorkers, who join the administration in prioritizing decisive action against this public safety and quality of life nuisance.

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