A New York man was arrested Wednesday, December 13, 2023, for displaying various forms of cannabis and other illegal products for sale in his business of “Tobacco N Cigar”, located at 2 Daniels Farm Road in Trumbull, CT. Numerous items were seized, and the owner, Abdul Hassan, age 23, of Bronx, New York was charged with possession with intent to sell these illegal products.
At approximately 5:30 PM, members of the Trumbull Police Department, along with agents from the Department of Consumer Protection and the Department of Revenue Services executed a Search and Seizure Warrant at the business to locate and seize items reasonably construed to facilitate the trafficking and use of illegal products. Officers met with the owner, Abdul Hassan, at the store where they eventually located multiple illegal THC products, along with sale proceeds totaling over $1200 in cash, multiple digital scales, records, packaging materials, and cigarettes that were affixed with counterfeit tax stamps all of which were on display for sale.
Hassan was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Operation of a Drug Factory. He was held on a $30,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on December 27, 2023. Hassan was also charged by the Department of Consumer Protection for Possession of Unstamped Cigarettes and was released on a written promise to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court for this charge.
In November 2023, the Trumbull police assisted the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) with conducting tobacco compliance checks. During that time, the Tobacco N Cigar was checked and ultimately passed the tobacco compliance checks, however DMHAS investigators observed numerous illegal products readily available for sale some of which had fake tax stamps on them. An investigation was conducted which led to the search warrant, seizure of the evidence, and arrest of Hassan.
In the State of Connecticut, retailers can legally sell THC products with a total cannabinoid percentage of only 0.3% or less. Licensed Connecticut Dispensaries are legally permitted to sell THC concentrate with a total cannabinoid percentage of up to 60%. Licensed Connecticut Dispensaries are legally permitted to sell Connecticut Manufactured THC products only. Nowhere in the State of Connecticut is it legal to sell California THC products or any products containing over 0.3% of cannabinoid.