Over 600 illegal vape shops in New York City have been shut down during Operation Padlock to Protect, Mayor Eric Adams told media.
“Many of them have remained closed,” he said. “We’re gonna stay committed to closing down these shops.”
A Throggs Neck deli was shut down on Wednesday after illegal flavored THC and nicotine vapes were discovered, officials said. The Sheriff’s Office “likely seized $1 million” in illegal products and nine people were arrested, according to authorities, according to media reports.
Some of the products were marketed toward children, Adams said.
“I believe this is a well-organized, almost chain store-type distributer,” Adams said about where the illegal products are believed to be coming from. “They are really supplying not only here in the city, but probably throughout the entire state.”