Booze, Nicotine Sold To Underage Agents In Nassau; Several Arrested: Cops

MINEOLA, NY — Several people were arrested this week after police said they sold alcohol and nicotine to underage agents as part of a sting operation in Mineola and New Hyde Park.

Undercover agents entered various stores Wednesday, where employees failed to ask for proper identification and then sold alcohol and nicotine products to the officers, Nassau County police said.

At the 76 Gas Station at 549 W. Jericho Turnpike in Mineola, Harjinder Singh, 50, of Astoria, sold alcohol to an underage agent, police said. Singh was issued two appearance tickets and was expected to appear in Hempstead district court July 5.

Ajwad Chowdhury, 22, of Uniondale, was issued two appearance tickets for selling nicotine to an undercover agent at Evolve Smoke Shop, located at 234 W. Jericho Turnpike in Mineola, police said. Chowdhury was expected to appear in court July 5.

Police arrested Pankajkumar Shah, 61, of Syosset, after he sold nicotine to an underage agent at the Ultra Mini Mart located at 1501 Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park, police said. They added that he also sold an item containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. During the arrest, police said they seized 90 products containing THC, which were packaged for sale, as well as $777.

Shah faces charges including selling tobacco to a person under 21, second-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was scheduled to appear in court Friday in Hempstead.

Noah Lakburlawal, 24, of Elmhurst, was arrested at It's Lit Smoke Shop located at 225-06 Jamaica Avenue in Bellerose Terrace. Lakburlawal sold nicotine to an undercover agent and had various products containing THC packaged for sale, police said. Law enforcement officers seized 867 THC products and $1,411.

Lakburlawal faces charges including selling tobacco to a person under 21, second-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was scheduled to appear in court Friday.