Over 13 pounds of crack cocaine seized from Lower East Side smoke shop: prosecutor

LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) — Officials seized over 13 pounds of alleged crack cocaine from a smoke shop during a routine inspection on the Lower East Side on Friday, according to prosecutors.

Mazen Tahhan, 37, was working behind the counter of the smoke shop at 20 Clinton St. around 1 p.m. when authorities entered. There was allegedly cannabis packaging materials and other marijuana paraphernalia close by, according to officials.

When authorities went to the back of the store, they found the crack cocaine inside large zip-lock bags and plastic containers, prosecutors said. Officers conducted an NYPD field test that identified the substance as crack cocaine.

“This case demonstrates the importance of collaborative efforts to address the proliferation of illegal cannabis shops. We will continue to investigate whether cannabis shops are concealing dangerous narcotic drugs to protect the health and safety of our communities,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan.

Officials also allegedly found several scales, thousands of empty glassine envelopes, plastic capsules, and hundreds of empty paper films that they suspect were used to package the drugs.

Prosecutors said that police took the shop’s keys and $1,876 in cash from Tahhan. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree.

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk . Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com .

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