Fentanyl-Laced Pot Found During Raid At Smoke Shop In Norwalk: Police

NORWALK, CT — Marijuana laced with fentanyl and other illegal products were seized from ZaZA Smoke Shop in Norwalk last week, during a police raid of the store that also yielded one arrest.

Ali Mahmood Ahmed Abdullah Ghaleb, 21, of New York City, was arrested at the store after the Friday raid, and was charged with the following:

• Possession with intent to sell more than 1 kg of Cannabis
• Possession greater than 1.5, 5, 8oz cannabis 21>
• Possession of cannabis plant <50 oz 18, Sale 1KG or more Cannabis-sbs
• Sale of a Narcotic substance
• Possession with intent to sell Narcotics
• Use of Drug Paraphernalia

Ghaleb's exact relationship with the store was not disclosed by Norwalk police, but the search of the Connecticut Avenue smoke shop was conducted with state Consumer Protection Drug Control Division.

Police had received information that fentanyl-laced marijuana was being sold out of the store, and was also selling other cannabis products without a license. The Friday raid is the second time the shop has been searched by Norwalk police.

"In Connecticut, it is illegal to sell products with a total THC concentration greater than 0.3% without a Cannabis license issued by the Department of Consumer Protection," Norwalk police officials wrote in a statement.

Many of the marijuana products seized during the search tested positive for the presence of fentanyl, according to police, and additionally, the search also yielded "several hundred products containing greater than .3% THC."

Police also seized 3.5 pounds of pure Marijuana and THC gummies, which contained 50 mg of THC per gummy where the actual legal amount is 1mg of THC per gummy, authorities said. The seized marijuana was also packaged with misleading labels affixed to them.

Cash totaling $1,983 was also seized from the store, and police will seek to keep it through the Asset Forfeiture Statutes.

Ghaleb was released after posting bond on bail of $15,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Aug. 16.