AGENCY TESTIMONY
Operational process for inspecting illegal smoke shops
0:08:43
·
125 sec
Sheriff Miranda details the strategic approach and operational process for inspecting and shutting down illegal smoke shops and unlicensed cannabis dispensaries.
- Prioritization of high-risk locations (e.g., near schools, selling to minors)
- Multi-agency teams conduct inspections across the five boroughs
- Process includes issuing violations, seizing illegal products, and padlocking stores if necessary
Anthony Miranda
0:08:43
For months, New Yorkers have seen and heard our efforts, but today, I would like to take the council through the operational demands of countering the spread of the illegal stores.
0:08:54
In the beginning of May, with an estimated 28100 illegal smoke shops and operation, the city had to strategically inspect any store that was considered an imminent threat to the health and safety of the community.
0:09:06
As such, the sheriff's office prioritizes inspecting smoke shops that sold unlicensed cannabis that had resulted in adults or children experiencing sickness, smoke shops that were identified as selling or targeting minors, and smoke shops that were within 1000 feet of a public youth facility, school, or house of worship.
0:09:27
Teams of 5 to 7 personnel, including deputy sheriffs, DCWP inspectors, and DNYPD, are strategically deployed to neighborhoods across the 5 boroughs.
0:09:37
To maximize resources, these teams will expect illegal smoke shops or unlicensed cannabis dispensaries operating in proximity of each other.
0:09:46
This enforcement tactic allows our operations to conduct as many as 60 inspections within a single day.
0:09:54
With each inspection, our deputy sheriff sheriff from Westgate and DCWP inspectors write and issue all relevant violation violations such as unlicensed sale of cannabis and possession of flavored tobacco products.
0:10:07
The inspecting officers then conduct the mandatory process of all illegal products were separated by category.
0:10:13
The bags and now I have to explain with the bags.
0:10:15
The other bags are way approximately 30 to £40 each.
0:10:18
So I think there was some misinterpretation when other people read that there were smaller bags.
0:10:22
We're talking about large bags that can hold about 30 or £40 of product.
0:10:26
We weigh the product and we seal the evidence at the location.
0:10:30
Illegal products include anything from cigarettes to cannabis and flavor form, and if eminent threat factors observed in offices will pat lock the store.
0:10:39
The largest number of illegal unlicensed products removed from one location was 29 pallets.
0:10:46
This summarizes the inspection process.
