2 arrested after North Huntingdon vape shop raid
Two men are behind bars after police raided a North Huntingdon vape shop Wednesday and seized numerous items authorities said were illegal, according to court papers.
Al Merdaie Mohamed, 41, of Irwin, and El Hacen Mohamed Najem, 27, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were charged with drug offenses after an undercover officer reported being offered vapes containing Delta 8 at Star Smoke and Vape.
Wednesday’s operation was conducted by the Westmoreland County Drug Task force, county detectives, agents from the state Attorney General’s Office and North Huntingdon police, according to court papers.
It was preceded by a February raid at the shop along Route 30 during which authorities said they seized more than 600 grams of illegal substances. Court papers indicated items seized then tested positive for marijuana.
On Wednesday, police said Najem was behind the counter when he supplied the undercover officer with several vapes containing Delta 8, which is illegal in Pennsylvania, according to court papers. Mohamed was arrested when he entered the business and told investigators he was an employee.
Illegal items were seized during a search at the shop Wednesday, including Delta 8 products, edibles and wax, police said.
Both suspects are being held at the Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $100,000 bail. Neither man had an attorney listed in online court records. Preliminary hearings are set for Nov. 21.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
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