5 Arrested After Raids On 3 Smoke Shops: Stratford Police

STRATFORD, CT — Five people were arrested, including the owner of multiple smoke shops in Stratford, after authorities executed search warrants at each business simultaneously on Friday afternoon, according to police.

The Stratford Police Department's Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit obtained information in August regarding ongoing drug dealings in the area of Barnum Avenue, according to Capt. Jerry Pinto.

Pinto said the information identified three similarly-operated businesses, “Star Smoke & Variety” shop at 2339 Barnum Avenue in Stratford; “On Your Way Convenience & Smoke Shop” at 2248 Barnum Avenue in Stratford and “Loco Smoke Shop” at 1742-1746 Barnum Avenue in Bridgeport.

The three smoke shops are all located within a 0.35-mile distance from each other, according to Pinto.

Pinto said the investigation determined that “illegal cannabis materials and products were being sold” from each of the three smoke shops.

Search warrants for all three smoke shops were approved by the Bridgeport States Attorney’s Office on Sept. 23.

On Sept. 26, Pinto said NVI Detectives, Stratford DB personnel, Stratford SRT members, Bridgeport Police Department Task Force Officers and Department of Consumer Protections Agents, executed the three search warrants simultaneously at approximately 1 p.m.

Rami Sawan, 33, was arrested at the On Your Way Smoke Shop and charged with conspiracy to commit/sale 1KG or more of cannabis, operation of a drug factory and producing/selling of cannabis without a license. Sawan was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 8.

Raghavendra Tulluru, 25, was arrested at the Star Smoke Shop and charged with conspiracy to commit/sale 1KG or more of cannabis, operation of a drug factory, producing/selling of cannabis without a license and interfering with police officer. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 8.

Fu Munazza, 25, was arrested at the Loco Smoke Shop and charged with conspiracy to commit/sale 1KG or more of cannabis, operation of a drug factory and producing/selling of cannabis without a license. She was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 8.

Anas Alsaedi, 26, is the owner of all three smoke shops, according to Pinto.

Pinto said that around 1:35 p.m. he was seen driving a Lexus sedan eastbound on Boston Avenue heading into Stratford. The Connecticut registration plate displayed on the Lexus sedan belonged on a Mercedes GLS 450 SUV, according to Pinto.

Pinto said a motor vehicle stop was conducted and Alsaedi was positively identified and subsequently taken into custody.

Alsaedi was charged with conspiracy to commit/sale 1KG or more of cannabis, operation of a drug factory and producing/selling of cannabis without a license. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 8.

Abdulrahman Essa, 24, is listed as the sole proprietor of the three smoke shops, according to Pinto. He surrendered at police headquarters around 7 p.m., according to Pinto.

Essa was charged with conspiracy to commit/sale 1KG or more of cannabis, operation of a drug factory and producing/selling of cannabis without a license. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 8.

Pinto said NVI detectives, with the assistance of Department of Consumer Protection Agents, seized approximately 17 pounds of illegal cannabis materials and products, along with $3,537 in cash and the Lexus sedan.

See also:

• 1 Arrested, Items Seized After Raid On Smoke Shop In Stratford: Police
• Nearly 108 Pounds Of THC Products Seized From Smoke Shop: Stratford PD
• Smoke Shop Employee Arrested After Compliance Check: Stratford Police