Police discover warehouse full of illegal pot during arrest in Queens: NYPD

QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – A breaking and entering in a Queens building by two suspects led to the discovery of hundreds of pounds of illegal pot at a warehouse on Thursday, according to city officials. 

Police responded to a 911 call near 26-32 Street in Astoria at 2:00 a.m. Two suspects were apprehended and arrested and had 100 pounds of marijuana on them, according to police officials.

 A search warrant was granted for officers to search a nearby warehouse. 

In the Queens warehouse, pallets filled with a variety of marijuana products were found. Boxes filled with blunts, marijuana vape pens, edible products, and bricks of marijuana appeared to be wrapped in vacuum-sealed bags, as shown in one video. 

“There are many unlicensed stores advertising and selling cannabis products. Products from unlicensed stores are being sold unlawfully,” read a city website for promoting and protecting the city’s health. “Unlicensed shops do not have regulated quality control measures and standards for their products. Products sold at unlicensed shops may contain harmful ingredients. They have also been found to contain inaccurate labeling of ingredients.”

At the end of July 2024, Law enforcement agencies said operations had shut down over 1,000 illegal cannabis storefronts in New York since April, including over 750 in New York City, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in one press conference.

Although it is legal to sell and buy cannabis in New York State, the operation in question was not licensed by a New York State Licensed Cannabis dispensary decal, making it an illegal operation. 

Further details were not immediately available.