2 Employees Arrested After Raid On Smoke Shop In Wallingford: Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — Two employees were arrested after police conducted a raid on a smoke shop in Wallingford last week.

Members of the Wallingford Police Department’s Crime Suppression Unit, Patrol Division, and K-9 Unit executed search-and-seizure warrants on Sept. 11 at PuffCity Smoke Shop and an associated vehicle following a two-month investigation into the “illegal sale of Schedule I controlled substances,” according to Lt. Stephen Jaques.

Jaques said the investigation began in July after patrol officers responded to a welfare check involving a person who had suffered a “severe adverse reaction” after consuming a product purchased from PuffCity. The product was initially believed to be a cannabis gummy, according to Jaques.

“Further investigation determined the product contained the kratom alkaloids 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and 7-Hydroxymitragynine pseudoindoxyl, substances classified as Schedule I controlled substances under Connecticut law,” Jaques wrote in a news release. “Investigators subsequently developed evidence that prohibited products containing these substances continued to be stored and sold at PuffCity. Search-and-seizure warrants were obtained for the business and an associated vehicle, along with arrest warrants for two employees.”

During the Sept. 11 operation, Jaques said officers seized additional quantities of the prohibited products and approximately $14,000 in cash that was believed to be proceeds from the illegal sale of controlled substances.

The two employees who were arrested are Oguzhan Goktas, 51, of Branford, and Baris Alanc, 27, of Wallingford. They were each charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.

Goktas was held in lieu of a $15,000 with a court date of Sept. 24.

Alanc was held in lieu of a $15,000 bond with a court date of Sept. 25.

Jaques said the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the sale of prohibited substances at PuffCity is asked to contact the Wallingford Police Department at 203-294-2800.