3 Middletown Mini-marts Busted For Selling Vape Pens To Teens

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown Police just did a sting operation Monday on several mini-marts in town that police say were knowingly selling vape pens to teens under 21.

Middletown Police did this after receiving tips from the public that a number of local stores have been selling vape products and e-cigarettes to teens under 21, said Police Chief R. Craig Weber.

Just yesterday, Monday, March 25, Middletown Police officers made arrests at the following three stores:

• The first location police responded to was Highlands Cigar and Smoke, located in Eastpoint Plaza, 2377 Rt. 36 in the Navesink section. Officers arrested Haq N. Khan, 26, of Union Beach. Khan was charged with one count of sale of a vaping product to a person under 21, and one count of selling a flavored vaping product.
• Officers then responded to the Wilson Avenue Deli, 198 Wilson Avenue in Port Monmouth. There, officers arrested Nelson Yamul, 69, of Middletown. Yamul was charged with one count of sale of a vaping product to a person under 21, and one count of selling a flavored vaping product. (This is the second such arrest for Yamul, and the second time Wilson Avenue Deli has been named by Middletown Police for selling vape products to underage teens. Wilson Avenue Deli was accused of doing this last May, too: Men Sold Vape Products To Underage Teens At 2 Middletown Stores: PD May 2023)
• Finally, officers responded to Monmouth Cigar and Smoke Shop, located in Romeo’s Plaza Shopping Center, 434 Rt. 36 again in Port Monmouth. Officers arrested Muhammad Shahid, 19, of Union Beach and charged him with count of sale of a vaping product to a person under 21, and one count of selling a flavored vaping product.

As part of the sting, officers hung out in the stores. After quietly observing the illegal transaction, officers then identified themselves and arrested the person behind the counter who made the sale

"The cooperation and support we receive from the public is critical to our success," said Chief Weber. “The illegal sale of any tobacco products to the underage people of our community carries a significant impact on our children’s lives. This is especially true with vaping products, which are incredibly addictive. It is an incredibly irresponsible act on the part of these establishments. Middletown Police take these offenses seriously. I thank those parents who discovered this activity and came forward to bring this information to our attention."

If found guilty, the stores will have to pay a fine.

“I want to thank the men and women of the Middletown Police Department for uncovering this disgusting effort by some local businesses to purposely sell additive products to children,” said Mayor Tony Perry. “While some in Trenton want to purposely handcuff police and our judicial system in New Jersey, Middletown will continue to hold individuals responsible for illegal business practices that put our residents in danger.”

Cracking down on vape pen sales to teens is a continued effort by Middletown PD: Men Sold Vape Products To Underage Teens At 2 Middletown Stores (May 24, 2023)