NEW CITY, NY – Following a year-long investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) participated in a series of raids on Tuesday, targeting seven locations across Rockland County for illegal sales of cannabis products. The enforcement action involved search warrants at two smoke shops in Clarkstown, two in Orangetown, and one in Suffern, with additional warrants at a business and a private residence in Clarkstown.
The multi-agency effort included the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, State Tax and Finance, State Office of Cannabis Management, and police departments in Clarkstown, Orangetown, and Suffern.
The operation stems from allegations that local businesses were selling cannabis products without necessary licenses, and allegations of sales to minors. Authorities have also identified tax evasion practices linked to these operations.
Erin Keegan, Homeland Security Investigations acting special agent in charge, detailed the investigation’s findings, stating, “What started as an investigation into allegations of local businesses selling cannabis products without proper licenses, including to minors, evolved into something larger. Our investigation found that these individuals fleeced the government of thousands of dollars in tax dollars – a scheme they then allegedly tried to disguise.”
At the time of this writing, the names of the Rockland cannabis stores/locations targeted in the raid have not been released.