2 more Danbury smoke shops busted for selling marijuana, multiple arrests made

Rebecca French

2 months ago

The Danbury Police Department is continuing its crackdown on smoke and vape shops selling illegal marijuana products in the city.

The White Street smoke shop failed two compliance inspections Thursday, according to Danbury police reports.

The two businesses affected are Cali Exotic Convenience at 35 White St. #8 and Smoke Station at 246 White St. #8.

Both operations failed their respective compliance checks, allegedly violating multiple laws.

RELATED: 4 Danbury vape shops busted by state and local law enforcement for a host of violations

In addition to the Danbury Police Department’s special investigation, a range of federal, state and local agencies contributed to Thursday’s law enforcement operation.

Also attending the meeting were personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport Field Office, Brookfield Police Department, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Connecticut Department of Revenue, Connecticut Department of Labor and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

The purpose of this joint effort is to ensure that local businesses are not selling tobacco products to minors or illegally providing marijuana products to customers.

Marijuana items seized from the White Street smoke shop included oils, flower, concentrates and edibles.

RELATED: 3 Danbury vape shops busted | AG Tong reports 55 pounds of illegal marijuana seized

Law enforcement officials began investigating the Cali Exotic convenience store and smoke station after receiving multiple complaints from community members, particularly parents of minors, about the sale of marijuana products and e-cigarettes to their children.

Since 2024, Danbury police have discovered violations at numerous smoke shops and confiscated approximately 185 pounds of marijuana products and thousands of dollars in cash.

Cigarette station

According to police reports, a clerk at the smoke station illegally sold marijuana products to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent. The business also sold tobacco to minors.

In addition, nearly 10 pounds of raw marijuana flower and the equivalent of several pounds of marijuana products were found at the scene.

The cigarette station was closed for violating labor law requirements and was issued a “stop work order” by CTDOL. DRS also found that the business’s license to sell tobacco products had expired and the clerk was issued a violation ticket for selling tobacco to a minor.

Hidden compartments containing illegal cannabis products were also allegedly found throughout the store.

The clerk, identified by police as Maria Luisa Anorga-Manrique, was arrested and charged with possessing with intent to sell more than one kilogram of marijuana, operating a drug factory and two counts of selling or manufacturing marijuana. She was released on $2,500 bail.

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Cali Exotic Conveniences

The clerk at Cali’s Exotic convenience store also illegally sold marijuana products to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent, the police report states.

The business was found to be in possession of nearly 15 pounds of raw marijuana flower and the equivalent of several pounds of other marijuana products.

State officials closed the store and issued a “stop work order.” It was also discovered that the business’s license to sell tobacco products had expired.

The employee, identified by police as Ala Ali Abdulla Ali, was arrested and charged with possessing with intent to sell more than one kilogram of cannabis, operating a drug factory and two counts of selling or manufacturing cannabis. Ali was released on $2,500 bail.

The case is ongoing, according to Danbury police. They are currently being investigated by the Police Investigation Bureau.

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Dalton Zbierski is a story desk editor and writer for FOX61 News. He can be reached via: dzbierski@FOX61.com.

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