Suffolk County Police arrested five people during an undercover compliance operation targeting the illegal sale of flavored vape products to people under the age of 21.
The arrests followed many complaints from neighbors about businesses allegedly selling tobacco and vape products to minors.
Officers from the Sixth Precinct Investigative Unit conducted compliance checks at 18 businesses to ensure adherence to state laws regulating the sale of tobacco-related products.
As a result of the operation, employees at five locations were charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in the Second Degree after allegedly selling flavored vape products to underage customers.
Those charged include Tirth Prakash Shah, 29, of Syosset, an employee at GasCon, located at 443 Middle Country Road in Coram; Steylon Ventura-Santos, 32, of Coram, an employee of Chico’s Smoke Shop at 3663-5 Route 112 in Medford; and Chaman Joshi, 63, of Coram, an employee at Sunoco Gas, located at 3423 Route 112 in Coram.
Also charged were Yousef Islam, 35, of Centereach, an employee of USA Gas at 3173 Route 112 in Medford, and Mehmet Kurt, 24, of Port Jefferson, an employee of Puff Club Smoke Shop, located at 1879 Route 112 in Coram.
Police said all five suspects were issued Desk Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
The compliance checks are part of an ongoing effort by Suffolk County Police to curb underage access to tobacco and vape products, particularly flavored items that officials say are often marketed toward younger users. Authorities emphasized that businesses and employees who fail to comply with the law will continue to face enforcement action.
Police encouraged residents to report concerns involving the sale of tobacco or vape products to minors, noting that community input plays a key role in protecting public health and safety.