Police this week raided a vape shop in Norwalk for the second time this year and reported finding marijuana products before arresting the clerk.
The raid was carried out Wednesday at Sono One Stop, located at 83 Washington St., according to Lt. Tomasz Podgorski of the Norwalk Police Department.
During the search, Podgorski said, investigators with the department’s Special Services Division allegedly found about 1.5 pounds of cannabis products, including pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes, containers and bags filled with marijuana and THC edibles.
The clerk, identified as 20-year-old Aiman Faroq Mohsen-Alhodais of Norwalk, was taken into custody, according to Podgorski. He faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell a controlled substance.
Podgorski said Mohsen-Alhodais also had a warrant out for his arrest charging him with sale of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $100,000 pending an arraignment scheduled for Dec. 18.
According to Podgorski, investigators raided the same shop in January. In November, authorities cited Sono One Stop for allegedly failing to comply with the vape shop ordinance the city passed earlier in the year. The incident this week marks the second alleged violation, Podgorski said.
Under the ordinance, which specifically targets vape shops selling marijuana without the proper license, the first violation leads to a $250 fine. If a second violation occurs within one year, the store’s license to sell vape products can be suspended for six months.
A third violation issued within two years of the first could lead to the store’s license being revoked, according to the ordinance.