Queens DA shutters six illegal cannabis shops and seizes hundreds of pounds of weed

Six illegal cannabis shops in Queens have been padlocked following a monthslong investigation known as Operation Weed Whacker, authorities said.

NYPD officers arrested four people and seized hundreds of pounds of cannabis and tobacco products as part of the enforcement effort with the Queens District Attorney's Office.

It’s the latest move in the city’s broader crackdown on unlicensed smoke shops, which has already led to hundreds of arrests and thousands of violations. Last month, dozens of dispensaries discovered they had violated state rules by being too close to schools.

The six newly shuttered stores are among 310 illegal cannabis shops closed in Queens County since July 2024, according to District Attorney Melinda Katz’s office. Since November 2022, prosecutors have brought felony charges against 445 people for selling or possessing cannabis or controlled substances in the borough.

This latest sweep led to the seizure of 130 pounds of cannabis flower, 110 pounds of vapes, 74 pounds of edibles and 173 pounds of flavored tobacco vapes.

Three people, including 24-year-old Mahmud Hossain of Queens Village, 32-year-old Michael Deblasio of Woodhaven and 34-year-old Hemyar Naji of Brooklyn, were arraigned on criminal charges related to cannabis possession. A fourth, unnamed individual received a desk appearance ticket. Their attorney information was not immediately available.

In a statement on Monday, Katz said her office would continue these enforcement actions.

“Illegal cannabis stores pose a threat to community safety and to the individuals who purchase their products,” she said.