The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has issued two summary suspensions to a smoke shop in the state after officers allegedly seized from it 107 pounds of cannabis products, including what were reported to be illegal THC edible products.

The Department of Consumer Protection said credentials were suspended at the shop, which prohibits all e-cigarette, vape and lottery sales immediately.

The SN Smoke & Vape, located at 665 Honeyspot Road, in Stratford was suspended following a search and seizure conducted by the Stratford Police Department on April 29. A message seeking comment was left at the store.

Business owner Anas Chwiki was arrested and charged with sale of 1 kilogram or more of cannabis and supplying a controlled substance without a license.

Confiscations of allegedly illegal materials sold at smoke shops have become a regular occurence in the state; in addition to being illegal, such products are not necessarily inspected or tested for safe use by consumers, as are cannabis products sold in stores licenced by the state to do so.

According to state data, Connecticut had $2,828,675 in legal cannabis sales in the week ending April 30. The total number of products sold legally was 81,412, the data shows. It was a drop from the previous week, when 153,912 products were sold legally, the data shows.

Police: CT smoke shop inspections lead to seizure of ‘significant quantity’ of THC products

The Department of Consumer Protection said in a statement about the Stratford store that “the alleged possession and sale of illegal drugs by the agent demonstrate a lack of integrity and dishonest behavior and present an ongoing threat to lottery customers visiting the store.”

“The credentials held by SN Smoke do not authorize them to engage in the sale of the illegal cannabis products. The authorization of a credential is not a recommendation, it is the law. Any deviation from what a credential allows is illegal and unacceptable.” DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in a statement.

“SN Smoke clearly poses a threat to the public safety of its patrons and community. The suspensions demonstrate the continual action to stop illegal operators in Connecticut. Thank you to the Stratford Police Department for their efforts.”

The shop’s Lottery Sales Agent license was initially issued on Jan. 6, 2021, and had been renewed annually and set to expire until March 31, 2026. The Electronic Cigarette Dealer registration was initially issued on June 15, 2020, and has been renewed annually, with the current permit set to expire on Feb. 28, 2026.

According to the summary suspension order from the Department of Consumer Protection, “Stratford police identified and seized the equivalent of 107.546 pounds of marijuana products, which were comprised of illegal THC edible products, illegal THC vape products, illegal THC beverages, and marijuana products.

“Some of these products were packaged in a manner appealing to children. Others, including those that were appealing to children, contained total THC hundreds or thousands of times above the amount allowed by law,” the order stated.

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The report also stated that the police seized $4,355 in cash. The funds were believed to be the proceeds of the alleged sale of the illegal goods, the report said.

The suspension order regarding the lottery license said, “the alleged possession and sales of illegal drugs by Mr. Chwiki from the premises demonstrate a lack of integrity and dishonest behavior in violation of Section 12-568a-5(e)(3) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. These actions seriously impair SN Smoke’s reputation for honesty and integrity as a Lottery Sales Agent and present an ongoing threat to lottery customers visiting the store.”