Police in Connecticut discovered fentanyl-contaminated weed during a raid on an unlicensed marijuana shop last Friday. The Norwalk Police Department, in collaboration with the State of Connecticut Consumer Protection Drug Control Division, executed a search warrant at the ZaZa Smoke Shop located at 360 Connecticut Avenue. This operation is part of an ongoing investigation targeting smoke shops selling cannabis without a proper license, the Norwalk Police Department said.
The raid yielded several hundred illegal cannabis products, including 3.5 pounds of pure marijuana and THC gummies with 50 mg of THC per gummy, far exceeding the legal limit of 1 mg per gummy. Many of these seized products tested positive for the presence of fentanyl, a deadly substance often associated with opioid overdoses.
Additionally, authorities confiscated approximately $1,983 in cash from the unlicensed shop, which will be processed under asset forfeiture statutes. This marks the second search and seizure operation conducted at this location.
During the raid, Ali Mahmood Ahmed Abdullah Ghaleb, 21, from New York, was arrested. He faces multiple charges, including possession with intent to sell more than 1 kg of cannabis, possession of a cannabis plant, sale of a narcotic substance, and possession with intent to sell narcotics. Ghaleb’s bond was set at $15,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court on August 16.
According to a statement from the Norwalk Police Department, “In Connecticut, it is illegal to sell products with a total THC concentration greater than 0.3% without a cannabis license issued by the Department of Consumer Protection.” The department also noted that the marijuana seized was misleadingly labeled.
This discovery of fentanyl-contaminated weed underscores the dangers associated with unregulated cannabis products. Consumers are urged to purchase cannabis only from licensed dispensaries to ensure product safety and compliance with state laws.
IN OTHER NEWS: Four Connecticut Smoke Shop Owners Charged in Drug Investigation
