FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DRUG BUST AT LOCAL SMOKE SHOPS
PERTH AMBOY- (DECEMBER 19, 2023) The Perth Amboy Police Department
is announcing a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to combat
illegal drug sales in the community. After a meticulous investigation spanning
nearly a month, the Special Investigations Unit has successfully apprehended
three individuals linked to the sale of unregulated marijuana in two local
smoke shops.
The investigation, initiated due
to numerous community complaints, centered on Smokey Hut Smoke Shop and Mini
Mart located at 553 Sayre Avenue, Perth Amboy, NJ. The shop, operated without a
proper license for marijuana sales, became a focal point of the investigation.
Further inquiries led to the discovery of a secondary location, Smokey Hi,
situated at 100 Main Street in Woodbridge Township, NJ, also involved in the
distribution of illegal substances.
In a coordinated operation on
December 8, 2023, the Perth Amboy Police Department's Special Investigations
Unit, in collaboration with the Woodbridge Police Department Narcotics Unit and
the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office task force, executed Superior Court
search warrants at both Smokey Hut Smoke Shop and Mini Mart and Smokey Hi. The
operation also included a search of a residence in Woodbridge, NJ. These
searches led to the seizure of quantities of illegal, unregulated marijuana.
The individuals arrested in this
operation are:
- Akash
Kapahi , aged 43, of Woodbridge, NJ, is the owner of both smoke shops.
- Bhavika
Kapahi , aged 39, of Woodbridge, NJ, is the owner of both smoke shops.
- Devan
Arvindakumar Luthra , aged 45, of Woodbridge, NJ, is an employee and brother of
Bhavika Kapahi.
These arrests mark a crucial step
in our ongoing efforts to uphold the law and safeguard our community from
illegal drug activities. The Perth Amboy Police Department, Woodbridge Police
Department, and The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office remain committed to the
relentless pursuit and prosecution of individuals involved in such unlawful
enterprises. We thank the citizens for their invaluable tips and our partner
agencies for their support in this operation.
Contact Information: For further information, please
contact Police Chief Cattano, Perth Amboy Police Department, at (732) 324-3801.
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