4 Illegal UES Weed Shops Raided By Sheriff's Office, Julie Menin

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — It was a smokeshow.

A quartet of illegal smoke shops were raided by the New York City Sheriff's office on the Upper East Side Monday, resulting in multiple charges and two store operators in cuffs.

Council Member Julie Menin — who has previously joined the Sheriff's office for prior raids — took part in a raid at one Yorkville shop responsible for a barrage of constituent complaints at her office.

At that shop, High Supply, located at 1640 York Ave., near East 87th Street, the owner was arrested and charged with criminal possession of cannabis.

"Over the last few months, our office received numerous complaints from constituents about illegal smoke shops selling adulterated products marketed to young kids," Menin said.

"This is why my office strongly advocated that these locations, suspected of selling unregulated marijuana and untaxed tobacco products to minors, be inspected by the Sheriff’s Office and the NYPD."

Menin said at the shop, they found "illegal cannabis being marketed in misleading candy and snack-like packaging, which can lead to school-aged children unknowingly consuming marijuana products."

Another store operator was arrested during Monday's raid at a store called 2 Z First Ave just up the street, at 1742 First Ave., near East 90th Street, and was charged with possession or transport for sale of 10,000 or more cigarettes.

Two Lenox Hill shops were also raided — at 201 East 61st St. (201 Convenient Corporation), near Third Avenue, and at 1364 York Ave. (1364 Smoke Shop Corp), near East 73rd Street — and were both charged with possession or sale of unstamped cigarettes and criminal possession of cannabis.

All four of the shops were located just steps from nearby schools and churches.

"My office will continue to work with law enforcement and our government partners to inspect and seize these products while passing and exploring further legislation that holds landlords accountable and informs New Yorkers of the dangers of illegal smoke shops," Menin said.

The raid comes just days after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared the state's legal cannabis store licensing rollout a "disaster," and ordered officials to fix the hobbled process.