Illegal Psychedelic Mushrooms, Candy Seized From NYC Shops: Prosecutor

NEW YORK CITY — Four people took a very bad trip to jail after authorities said they sold illegal psilocybin mushrooms and shroom-laced candies from two East Village shops.

A pair of undercover stings Tuesday uncovered a secret backroom at “Come Back Daily” CBD shop along 11th Street where customers could enter with a code phrase and browse a kaleidoscope of shroom products, from actual mushrooms to gummies to chocolates, authorities said.

NYPD cops raided that establishment, along with “City Clouds” smoke shop on East Seventh Street, based on “community complaints” about illegal drug dealing, said Bridget G. Brennan, the city’s special narcotics prosecutor.

“I thank those who care enough about their neighborhoods and protecting public safety to alert us to the ongoing problem of distribution of illegal substances by purportedly legitimate businesses,” Brennan said in a statement.

A growing number of states and cities have decriminalized or outright legalized psychedelic mushrooms — which show great promise in combating depression, anxiety and other issues — in recent years. But New York City, as yet, is not one of them, although they’re increasing available in many shops.

Prosecutors said “Come Back Daily” was one such shop.

Investigators found evidence the shop had a hidden door and shroom-filled backroom, and a search warrant proved that right, authorities said.

The back area had nearly 1,500 psilocybin mushroom pills, 59 plastic baggies filled with “Mushie” brand psychedelic mushrooms, 24 plastic bags of “Mushie” brand psilocybin gummies, 35 large chocolate “Polka-Dot” mushroom bars, along with boxes of smaller chocolate bars and even more psilocybin mushrooms, prosecutors said. All those shrooms were seized, authorities said.

Police arrested the shop’s owner — Steven Phan, 33 — and two workers, William Brako, 24, and Nina Fink, 22, authorities said.

The same day, an undercover cop entered “City Clouds,” asked for a “One Up” mushroom chocolate bar that contained psilocybin and bought it, prosecutors said. Cops returned with a search warrant and found a second chocolate bar, authorities said.

The shop’s owner — Mohamed Ahir, 44 — was also arrested, prosecutors said.

All four people were arraigned Thursday on criminal possession or sale charges.