The Queens District Attorney's Office recently announced the shutdown of an unauthorized cannabis operation in Rego Park. The mobile dispensary was parked under the Long Island Expressway on Woodhaven Boulevard. After several undercover purchases by the detective investigators, authorities executed a search warrant and apprehended three individuals last Wednesday, according to the Queens District Attorney's Office.
Authorities, including members of NYPD and New York City Sheriff's Office, confiscated four pounds of leafy cannabis and over a pound of concentrated forms of the substance. Packaged edibles designed to mimic candy were also found inside the van. These items, due to their packaging, may have an appeal specifically to the younger demographic. What's more troubling is the van's location across the street from an educational institution and a playground was a mere few hundred feet away.
In a statement by District Attorney Melinda Katz, she expressed the office's determined stance on such activities: "This illegal cannabis truck was parked just across the street from a school and a few hundred feet from a playground." Katz emphasized the risk of selling unregulated products close to children and the ongoing efforts to stem the tide of unlawful dispensaries. In the crackdown, more than 400 suspected illegal cannabis outlets have been targeted, leading to a staggering $25 million in seizures, as stated in the press release.
The Queens District Attorney's Office encourages community vigilance. Residents are urged to report suspected illicit cannabis operations. The office can be reached at 718-286-6503 or via email at [email protected] for such reporting.
