NYSP: Repeat offender smoke shop in Boonville among three establishments busted throughout Oneida County for allegedly allowing underage sales of flavored nicotine vapes to minors

ONEIDA COUNTY- Two local establishments to our station listening region have been found in violation for allowing the underage sales of flavored nicotine vapes to minors, one of which is now considered by authorities as a repeat offender.

This development stems from a local partnership between the New York State Police and several area law enforcement agencies.

Known as “Operation Vaporizer,” this latest blitz focused around the Oneida County region, including six establishments that were checked recently for compliance, to which three of them were caught allegedly selling flavored nicotine vapes to underage minors.

As a result of the initiative, the following locations were checked and found to be in compliance:

Camden Gourmet Deli and Smoke Shop 54 Main Street Camden, NY.

Z1 Smoke Shop 13410 State Route 12 Boonville, NY.

Royal Plus Shop 8601 Turin Road Rome, NY (T/Lee).

The following locations were found NOT to be in compliance with the laws dealing with the sale of nicotine vapes to persons under the age of 21:

NC Smoke Shop 13187 State Route 12 Boonville. This location is a repeated offender, according to State Police Investigators. As a result, Leah J. Irish, age 18 from Boonville, NY was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class "A" misdemeanor.

One Stop Deli 14 College Street Clinton, NY. As a result, Mohamed K. Al Almeri, age 31 from Clinton, NY was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class "A" misdemeanor.

Iron Lungs 8215 Turin Road Rome, NY. As a result, Devin J. Riggleman, age 26 from Rome, NY was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class "A" misdemeanor.

As a result of receiving countless complaints from school districts and parents, several law enforcement agencies have been initiating these crackdowns together again with hopes to curb such sales.

"This is a reminder to all smoke shops in New York State that the legal age to purchase tobacco products or nicotine vapes is 21 years of age," the State Police said in a released statement.

The New York State Police received assistance by the following agencies: Town of Kirkland Police Department, Boonville Police Department, and Camden Police Department.

NYSP image.