7 Charged as 9 Businesses Raided in Illegal Cannabis Probe

Seven Men Face Charges Following Greece Police Crackdown on Illegal Cannabis Sales

A comprehensive investigation by the Greece Police Department has led to charges against seven men in connection with illegal cannabis sales across several businesses in Monroe County, New York. Authorities conducted a coordinated raid on nine businesses on Wednesday, marking the culmination of an inquiry that began in May.

Businesses Raided Across Monroe County

The targeted businesses, none of which held licenses to sell cannabis, were operating in Greece, Irondequoit, Rochester, Penfield, Ogden, and Henrietta. These establishments, primarily smoke shops and convenience stores, were identified as part of an illegal cannabis sales network. Among the raided locations were:

Red Eye at Stoneridge Plaza, Greece

Red Eye at West Ridge Road & North Avenue, Greece

Red Eye on East Ridge Road, Irondequoit

Diva Hair Designers on East Ridge Road, Irondequoit

Red Eye CBD on Empire Boulevard, Penfield

Lift Off Smoke Shop on Monroe Avenue, Rochester

McCall Mini Mart on McCall Road, Rochester

Red Eye on Buffalo Road, Ogden

High End Smoke Shop on East Henrietta Road, Henrietta

In addition to these businesses, search warrants were executed at six residential locations, yielding significant quantities of drugs and cash.

Substantial Seizures of Drugs and Cash

The investigation led to the seizure of substantial amounts of illegal substances and currency. Greece Police reported confiscating:

129 pounds of bulk cannabis

826 pounds of THC products

108 pounds of psilocybin products

$628,000 in cash

$459,083 from bank accounts

Additionally, five vehicles were seized as part of the operation. These items were all obtained during coordinated searches on Wednesday, contributing to what authorities describe as a substantial disruption of illegal sales in the area.

Individuals Charged with Criminal Possession and Conspiracy

The seven men facing charges include individuals from Greece, Irondequoit, and Rochester. They are accused of criminal possession of cannabis and conspiracy to sell cannabis without proper licenses. Those charged include:

Haman Ali, 26, of Irondequoit

Salahaldden Ali, 24, of Irondequoit

Mohammed Ahmed, 24, of Greece

Lahsoon Ahmed, 20, of Greece

Ieasa Mohammed, 19, of Greece

Adam Isriwea, 22, of Greece

Magnus Sykes, 21, of Greece

Each of the suspects now faces serious legal repercussions, as the charges are related to both possession and distribution in unlicensed locations.

The Office of Cannabis Management Closes Raided Businesses

Following the raids, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management stepped in to close down all businesses involved in the investigation. The Red Eye location in Stoneridge Plaza, Greece, had already been targeted in a previous raid in April 2023 for similar activities. Authorities report that the business owners and operators had established multiple locations in Monroe County, allowing for extensive unlicensed cannabis distribution.

Local Opposition to Cannabis Dispensaries

The Town of Greece has consistently maintained a strict stance on cannabis sales. In December 2021, the Greece Town Board voted to opt out of allowing licensed cannabis dispensaries to operate within the town’s jurisdiction. This stance has likely contributed to an underground market, which authorities are now actively dismantling through investigations and enforcement actions.

This recent crackdown highlights the challenges facing municipalities like Greece, as unlicensed cannabis businesses continue to operate outside the regulated framework. The investigation and subsequent raids underscore the Greece Police Department’s commitment to enforcing the town’s cannabis policies, as well as the state’s efforts to ensure compliance with New York’s cannabis laws.