3 Arrested After Selling Tobacco To Minors: Suffolk Police

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Three were arrested Thursday in connection with selling vape and tobacco products to a person under the age of 21 during compliance checks in the towns of Smithtown and Brookhaven, Suffolk police said.

As part of the department’s "Operation Smoke Out," Suffolk County Police Department Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers and the Suffolk County Department of Health Tobacco Enforcement Unit investigated the sale of vape and other tobacco products to underage persons at
15 businesses, police said. Three businesses were not in compliance, police said.

Police say they arrested and charged the following people:

• Alexander Naupari-Ocana, 27, of Islip, employed at BP Gas station, at 240 W. Main St., Smithtown, was charged with second-degree unlawfully dealing with a child.
• Hasan Feroz, 37, of Selden, employed at AMPM Mart, at 204 Smithtown Boulevard, Nesconset, was charged with second-degree unlawfully dealing with a child and public health law: sale of flavored vape products.
• Amritpal Singh, 38, of Ronkonkoma, employed at Hawkins Convenience and Smoke Shop, at 422 Hawkins Ave., Ronkonkoma, was charged with second-degree unlawfully dealing with a child.

Several hundred flavored vape products were seized from both AMPM Mart and Hawkins Convenience and Smoke Shop, police said. Multiple cannabis products were seized from Hawkins Convenience and Smoke Shop, police said.

Suffolk County Department of Health will be issuing numerous citations to the businesses
involved for selling to underage persons and possessing multiple amounts of flavored vape products, police said.