2 Businesses Ordered Closed, Clerks Arrested After Compliance Checks: Danbury PD

DANBURY, CT — Two smoke shops in Danbury were ordered closed by the Connecticut Department of Labor, and two clerks were arrested after authorities conducted undercover compliance inspections on Thursday, according to officials.

The joint operation was conducted by members of the Danbury Police Department Special Investigations Division, DEA Bridgeport Field Office, the Brookfield Police Department, CT Department of Consumer Protection, CT Department of Revenue Services, CT Department of Labor, and CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

“In a joint operation, with the interest of enforcing vape shop regulations as they apply to underage sales of tobacco products, the sale of DBC products with THC concentration beyond the allowable levels, and the outright sale of illicit THC products, including oil, bud, and edibles, two shops were inspected for compliance,” Danbury police wrote in a news release. “As a result of citizen complaints, primarily from parents of minors, regarding the sale of THC products and vapes to their children, the Danbury Police Department has performed many compliance checks in the past, which have resulted in the seizure of pounds of marijuana (bud and other THC products) and other illicit products, equaling several thousands of dollars in value.”

Authorities conducted the compliance checks at Cali Exotic Convenience, 35 White St. #8, and Smoke Station, 246 White St., in Danbury.

Police said Smoke Station failed the compliance check, noting that a clerk “made an illegal sale of a marijuana product to a DEA Agent acting in an undercover capacity.”

Smoke Station also sold tobacco to a minor, according to police.

“Additionally, they were found to have 9.75 pounds of raw (flower) equivalent pounds of illicit THC products, including flower, oil, concentrates, and edibles,” police wrote in the news release. “Smoke Station was closed down and issued a Stop-Work Order by the CT Department of Labor for violating labor law requirements. Additionally, the Department of Revenue Services found that Smoke Station had an expired permit to sell tobacco products and issued an infraction to the clerk for the underage sale of tobacco.

“Three hidden compartments were located, a false shelf, and several hidden compartments were located behind a shelving/wall unit in the cash register area, and a hidden compartment was located in a shelving unit in a back room. All the compartments contained illicit THC products.”

Cali Exotic Convenience also failed the compliance check, according to police.

Police said a Cali Exotic clerk illegally sold a marijuana product to an undercover DEA Agent.

“Cali Exotic Convenience was found to have 14.8 pounds of raw (flower) equivalent pounds of illicit THC products, including flower, oil, concentrates, and edibles,” police wrote. “The shop was closed down and issued a Stop Work Order by the CT Department of Labor for violating labor law requirements.

“Additionally, the Department of Revenue Services found that Cali Exotic Convenience had an expired permit to sell tobacco products.”

The Smoke Station clerk, later identified as Maria Luisa Anorga-Manrique, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to sell >1 kg of cannabis, operation of a drug factory, and two counts of sale or manufacture of cannabis. She was released after posting a $2,500 bond.

The Cali Exotic Convenience clerk, later identified as Ala Ali Abdulla Ali, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to sell >1kg of cannabis, operation of a drug factory, and two counts of sale or manufacture of cannabis. He was released after posting a $2,500 bond.

“Since 2024, Danbury Police Department, in collaboration with the already listed outside agencies, has seized approximately 185 lbs of illicit THC products, thousands of dollars in cash and have made multiple arrests from various smoke shops in Danbury,” police wrote.

Police said the case remains open and is being actively investigated by Danbury detectives.