Police Seize Nearly 100 Pounds Of Cannabis, Cash From Norwalk Home: PD

NORWALK, CT — Nearly 100 pounds of cannabis and over $135,000 in cash were seized by police following a search of a Norwalk home Thursday, according to the Norwalk Police Department.

In a news release, Police Lt. Ramon Tejada said members of the department's Special Services Division executed a search and seizure warrant at a Glenwood Avenue home, which resulted from a long-term investigation into several vape and tobacco shops operating in Norwalk.

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According to Tejada, police identified the home as a suspected stash house believed to be used to store a large amount of cannabis products.

Investigators determined the home was being used to store and supply cannabis products for distribution to multiple vape and tobacco shops in Norwalk and Stamford, according to Tejada.

During the execution of the search warrant, police located 96.5 pounds of marijuana products, over $135,000 in cash, illegal cigarettes and forged Connecticut cigarette tax stamps, according to Tejada.

"This is a part of ongoing investigations into smoke shops in the city of Norwalk suspected of selling cannabis and cannabis products without a valid cannabis license," Tejada said in a news release. "Under Connecticut Law, it is illegal to sell products that contain a total THC concentration greater than 0.3 percent without a state-issued license, as well as to sell pure cannabis outside of a licensed dispensary."

According to Tejada, police arrested Saad Almoraisi, 41, Khairalah Almoraisi, 18, Adel Alfallahi, 54, and M'Ahmoud Remye, 23, of Norwalk, as well as Mohamed Ali Zaidan, 46, of Albany, N.Y., and Islam Altahami, 19, of San Francisco, Calif.

They were charged with possession of greater than one kilogram of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of cannabis and cannabis products over five ounces or more in a locked container, operating a drug factory, conspiracy to possess greater than 1 kilogram of cannabis with intent to sell, conspiracy to possess over five ounces or eight ounces or more in a locked container, conspiracy to operate a drug factory, possession of fraudulent cigarette tax stamps, conspiracy to possess fraudulent cigarette tax stamps, possession of untaxed cigarettes and conspiracy to possess untaxed cigarettes, according to Tejada.

Saad Almoraisi was also charged with two warrants charging him with sale of cannabis and possession of cannabis, as well as two warrants charging him with failure to pay or plea on infractions, according to Tejada.

They are scheduled to appear in court Friday, Tejada said.