BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

CANTON -- Seven unlicensed marijuana shops were raided by multiple law enforcement agencies that seized 66 grams of psilocybin, 27 pounds of cannabis concentrate, 63.2 pounds of cannabis, 18,386 vapes, six switchblade knives and $37,530 in cash Thursday, June 29.

In an operation titled ’Trip around the County’ shops in Oswegatchie, Potsdam, Massena, Canton and Gouverneur were investigated and the operation is still underway, according to officials.

St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe said the goal was not to eradicate marijuana use in the county, but rather stop the sale of illegal substances and drugs to minors.

”Illegal substances are in some of these products being sold in these establishments with no oversight. It will continue to endanger the citizens of St. Lawrence County and surrounding counties,” he said.

St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua doubled down on the sheriff’s statement at a press conference. in Canton Friday morning, June 30.

“This isn't about, necessarily, just marijuana, and whether you agree or disagree with the law that was passed here in New York. This is about the totality of what was happening in the stores as the sheriff mentioned. This is about controlled substances and hallucinogens being sold in the stores. This is about them being sold to children in our communities. That is why this was so important,” he said.

“The stores were operating with no oversight, and selling basically to whoever they wanted to. And if you look at some of the products that you know, we have here on display, they're almost marketed for[img_assist|nid=342449|title=St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe speaks a press confernce.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=249] children. They look like candy. They look like things children should be buying.”

Pasqua said school officials and community leaders have raised concerns about the shops.

“We have complaints from community members that their children, high school age and middle school age, are coming home with vapes. And if you look at what we took from the stores, these vapes not only contain nicotine, but they also contain marijuana, and that just will not be tolerated,” he said.

“As the sheriff said one of these stores was only 400 feet from a local school. When you have businesses that are not going to operate within the law and sell to children it's a no go in this county and across the state and law enforcement will not tolerate this.”

Assisting in the operation were the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office. St. Lawrence County District Attorney's office, Canton PD, Potsdam PD, Gouverneur PD, Ogdensburg PD, Massena PD, New York State Police, Homeland Security and the US Border Patrol.

“This was approximately a two-month investigation into illegal sales of controlled substances and illegal sales of marijuana to persons under the age of 21,” Bigwarfe said.

Officials said the marijuana has not yet been tested for other substances, but will be sent out for testing.

The shops were not paying sales tax.

In regard to shops potentially reopening, officials said that’s a possibility and that they would be addressed accordingly.

“When we see shops open, we will do an investigation and we will look into them and make sure they're lawful if they're lawful. That's great. We'll do everything. aboveboard. The way they're supposed to do it then there will be no issues. If they do any illegal activity, then we will look into them. And if we can investigate it and prove it will arrest them, we will charge them and we will prosecute them. So again, this is an ongoing thing where it just will not be tolerated.”

Seven operations raided

Legends Smoke Shop, 701 Canton Street, Town of Oswegatchie

The shop was operating within 400 feet of Ogdensburg Free Academy school grounds.

Mohammed Abdo Mona Saleem, 27, of Syracuse, was charged for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the 4th degree, a class C felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th degree with the intent to sell, a class D felony.

Olivia A. Henry, 27, Ogdensburg, was charged for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the 4th degree, a class C felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th degree (2-counts) with the intent to sell, a class D felony.

Seized at the location were 7.5 grams of Psilocybin candy bar and gummies, 6.5 ounces of cannabis, 2,809 grams of concentrated cannabis, 2,190 flavored nicotine vapes, 6 switchblade style knives and $20,309.00 in US currency.

Legends Dream Exotic Tobacco, 63 Market Street, Village of Potsdam

No one present at the time of search warrant and charges are pending.

Seized at the location were 23.5 grams of Psilocybin, 29 ounces of cannabis, 1386 grams of concentrated cannabis, and 7,689 flavored nicotine vapes.

Ash Exotics, 1 Market Street, Village of Potsdam

Musa Munir Abdulmalei AI Bahri, 24, of Syracuse, was charged for criminal sale of cannabis in the 3rd degree, a class A misdemeanor, selling to a person under the age of 21, criminal possession of cannabis in the 2nd degree, a class E felony and unlawful sale of cannabis (2-counts) which are violations.

Seized at the location were 3.5 pounds of cannabis, 1224 grams of concentrated cannabis and 5,283 nicotine flavored vapes. Also $6,883 in US currency.

Famous A's, 157 Center Street, Village of Massena

Thunder C. Anderson, 46, of Hogansburg, and Julianne E. Jacobs, 32, from Massena were charged with criminal possession of cannabis in the 2nd degree, a class E Felony and criminal possession of cannabis 3rd degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Seized at the location were 42 pounds of cannabis, 5,707 grams of concentrated cannabis, 767 flavored nicotine vapes and $1616 US currency.

THC Remedies, 6 Beach Street, Village of Massena

Joshua L. Shorette, 39, of Brasher Falls, and Justin L. Deshane, 31, of Massena, were charged with criminal possession of cannabis in the 3rd degree, a class A misdemeanor and criminal possession of cannabis 2nd degree, a class E felony.

Seized at the location were 13.8 pounds of cannabis, 857 grams of concentrated cannabis and 114 flavored nicotine vapes. Also $3,161 in US currency.

Exit 420, 101 East Main Street, Village of Gouverneur

Jameel J. Mazab, 20, of Auburn, for criminal possession of cannabis in the 3rd degree (2-counts), class A misdemeanors.

Seized at the location were 225 grams of concentrated cannabis, 27 ounces of cannabis and 1,140 flavored nicotine vapes. Also $5,289 in US currency.

Canton Tobacco Shop, 39 Main Street, Village of Canton

Emad AI-Wael, 37, from Garland, TX, for criminal Possession of a controlled substance in the 5th Degree, a class D felony and criminal sale of cannabis in the 3rd degree, a class A misdemeanor, selling to a person under the age of 21.

Seized at the locations were 35 grams of Psilocybin candy bars, 108 grams of concentrated cannabis, 48 ounces of Kratom and 1,185 flavored nicotine vapes. Also $255 in US currency.

Totals from all 7 locations include 66 grams of Psilocybin, 12,316 grams of Concentrated Cannabis (27 pounds), 63.2 pounds of Cannabis, 18,368 Flavored Nicotine Vapes, and $37,513 in US Currency. All the concentrated cannabis seized was a combination of cannabis vape pens, wax, and edibles.

All subjects arrested were either issued an appearance ticket or arraigned and released with future court dates. Investigation is ongoing and further arrests and charges are pending.