On a chilly March afternoon in Suffolk County, what began as a routine compliance check quickly turned into a troubling snapshot of a much larger issue. Officers from the Sixth Precinct Investigative Unit set out to follow up on community complaints about the illegal sale of tobacco and vape products to minors. Parents and local leaders had raised concerns, and law enforcement responded.
Eight businesses were checked that day. Most followed the law. Two did not.
At Convenience Tobacco in Selden, 31-year-old employee Khalifah Mohamed allegedly sold vape products to an underage individual.
Not far away, at MI Convenience & Smoke Shop in Middle Island, 30-year-old Abigail Dougal did the same. Investigators later seized flavored vape products from the second location, items often designed to appeal to younger users.
Both individuals were arrested and charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in the Second Degree.
They were issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip.
While the arrests may seem routine, they highlight a deeper and more dangerous reality.
Vaping among teens has become a serious public health concern.
According to the CDC, as recently as 2024, more than 2 million U.S. middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes. Many of these products contain high levels of nicotine, which can harm the developing brain, affecting attention, learning, and impulse control.
Even more alarming are the physical risks. Vaping has been linked to lung injuries, including EVALI, a condition that has hospitalized thousands of young people across the country and, in some cases, led to death. What may appear to be a harmless habit can quickly become a life-threatening addiction.