Baltimore Smoke Shop Raid Nets Two Pounds and a Rifle

What started as a search warrant turned into a sizable bust in East Baltimore yesterday, when officers hit a smoke shop in the 2100 block of East Monument Street and walked out with a loaded rifle, about two pounds of suspected cannabis, and a 22-year-old in custody, according to police.

Investigators say the man was outfitted in a ballistic vest labeled "armed security" as they moved in on the store. He was arrested on the spot and taken to the Baltimore City Central Booking Intake Facility, where he faces a mix of controlled-dangerous-substance and firearms-related charges.

What police say and what was seized

In a post on X, Baltimore Police said detectives from the Southeast District executed the search-and-seizure warrant at the Monument Street smoke shop on Tuesday. Inside, officers reported finding roughly two pounds of suspected cannabis, which they say was individually packaged for distribution.

According to the post, detectives had watched the 22-year-old several times as he allegedly sold the products from inside the store. When they moved in, police say he had a loaded rifle, adding a gun case to what was already shaping up as a significant drug arrest.

Raid fits into repeated enforcement on Monument Street

For people who live and work along East Monument Street, this scene might feel a little familiar. The Southeast District Action Team has been running similar operations along the corridor, targeting what police describe as illegal smoke shop activity.

Back in November 2025, detectives executed warrants at two businesses on or near East Monument Street and seized about 65 pounds of marijuana along with hundreds of vapes, a sweep that was detailed in raids that yielded 65 pounds of marijuana. Tuesday's bust fits neatly into that ongoing pattern of enforcement on the strip.

Charges and processing

Police say the 22-year-old was hit with controlled dangerous substances and firearms-related offenses following the raid. After his arrest at the smoke shop, he was transported to the Baltimore City Central Booking Intake Facility for processing.

According to the department's account, prosecutors will decide what formal charges to file as investigators continue to work the case. For now, the arrest sits at the intersection of Baltimore's drug enforcement efforts and the growing scrutiny on how some smoke shops are operating.

How to report tips

Detectives are asking anyone who saw alleged sales or other suspicious activity in the 2100 block of East Monument Street to come forward, especially if they have video or other evidence that could help the investigation.

Tips can be shared anonymously through Metro Crime Stoppers or directly with Baltimore Police Media Relations. The department lists its media phone line as 410-396-2012 and its email as [email protected] in its newsroom information.