Morris County, NJ – Nineteen owners, managers, and employees have been charged following a months-long investigation targeting smoke shops accused of illegally selling marijuana, intoxicating hemp products, and flavored vape products throughout Morris County. The investigation was conducted as part of the New Jersey Attorney General‘s statewide initiative targeting unlicensed cannabis retailers.
Beginning in April, investigators focused on businesses in Boonton, Montville Township, Randolph Township, and Roxbury Township. On July 1, authorities executed 11 search warrants at businesses, along with a residence and a vehicle, seizing more than 56,000 THC vape units, 328 pounds of THC gummies and edibles, 16.5 pounds of marijuana, approximately 100 nitrous oxide canisters, 17,323 flavored vapes, and $45,265.32 in cash.
Related: Morris County, THC vapes, marijuana, smoke shops, New Jersey Attorney General
Owners, employees and managers charged
Among those charged are Vape Waves Smoke Shop owner Dhafer Ghaleb and employee Ali Alsaydi in Montville Township; True Blaze Smoke Shop/Wah Wah 2 Smoke Shop owner Madhat Abunasser, along with Firas Damra and employee David Grzesiak in Boonton; Green Lux Smoke Shop employee Ashley Naranjo Belaczar in Morris Plains and Sandra Porras in Roxbury Township; Crown Cigar & Smoke owner Srinivasa Koppisetti in Boonton; Heritage Marketplace manager Goktan Ozdemir and employee Levent Unal in Randolph Township; MK Mini Mart owner Devinder Singh and employees Amit Pundir and Dinesh Chander in Roxbury Township; Sweet Dreams employee Anthony Castro in Roxbury Township; M&S Convenience & Cigar owner Mead Almontaser in Boonton; and Stardust Smoke Shop part-owners Jigarkumar Patel, Riya Patel, and Meet Patel in Randolph Township.
The defendants face varying combinations of third- and fourth-degree offenses, including conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, money laundering, unlawful possession of controlled dangerous substances, possession of psilocybin, possession of drug paraphernalia, and offenses involving toxic chemicals sold or possessed for intoxication. Not every defendant faces the same charges, according to the criminal complaints.
Multi-agency operation
Search warrants were also executed at Smoke & Deli in Boonton, where investigators issued a written warning for a first offense involving the sale of less than one ounce of marijuana. Authorities said the investigation remains active and additional charges may be filed.
“I acknowledge and thank all the agencies who participated in this investigation to disrupt and dismantle the illegal sale of marijuana, intoxicating hemp, and illegal flavored vapes from these businesses operating in our communities,” Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said. “The scale of the operation could not have been accomplished without the professional men and women involved, including detectives, assistant prosecutors, and civilians, who worked collaboratively to make this operation a success.”
Montville Police Chief Andrew Caggiano said the targeted smoke shops “are not harmless corner stores — they are unregulated points of sale for products that our laws were specifically designed to control,” while New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police President Kevin Carey said the amount of contraband recovered demonstrated “a pattern of businesses operating outside the licensing and public health framework” established by the state.
