Suffolk County Police conducted compliance checks at seven businesses as part of its “Operation Smoke Out” with the county health department's Tobacco Enforcement Unit on Thursday, May 9.
Of the stores audited, two in Middle Island reportedly sold tobacco and vape products to customers under 21.
The following employees were arrested on suspicion of unlawfully dealing with a child:
- Aaditya Patel, age 27, of Middle Island; employed at Jala Cards & Gift on Middle Country Road
- Shamas Din, age 39, of Coram; employed at Barcode Smoke & Hookah on Middle Country Road
Officers seized more than 350 illegal vape products from Jala Cards & Gifts, and more than 940 from Barcode Smoke & Hookah, police said.
Patel and Din were issued field appearance tickets and will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
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