Operation Padlock: How the crackdown on illegal smoke shops is going one week in

New York is one week into the latest operation focused on shutting down illegal smoke shops across the five boroughs.

According to the Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force, 150 inspections have been located, with 75 of those being sealed. They say that nearly $6 million in penalties have been issued this year. Of those 75 locations, 13 are in the Bronx and 14 are in Brooklyn.

Local residents tell News 12 that they’re sick of the streets being flooded with smoke shops. One smoke shop on Castle Hill Avenue in the Bronx has been sealed for several days, locked off with a padlock – something that you may see at other NYC smoke shops soon.

Mayor Adams’ office says they’ll be continuing to ramp up efforts to close down places illegally selling cannabis in the coming weeks. One smoke shop owner who doesn’t sell cannabis had a message to those who do.

“Go through the process, go get licensed. And at the same time, I want to say to the city, make it easier for them to get licensed,” said smoke shop owner Sam Alhudiss.