Four Men Arrested at Huntington Vape Shops

By Ishan Shah

Four men were arrested at Vape Shops in Huntington, for selling drug paraphernalia and tobacco to underage minors.

Arrested are Sabeeh Ataf age 25, of Central Islip;  Yacoub Isselmou, age 27, of Huntington Station; Joseph Ruesda Medoza, age 20, of East Northport, and Daniel Fuentes, age 21, of Central Islip 

Ataf was employed at Huntington Mart, located at 276 E Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station; Isselmou was employed at Joe Joe Convenience and Candy Store, located at  212 Depot Road in Huntington Station; and Mendoza and Fuentes were employed at Higher Smoke, located at 2066 Jericho Turnpike, in East Northport.

The Suffolk County Police Department conducted the vape shop raids to combat the spread of drug abuse among children and minors.

In each arrest, the vape shop employees sold "flavored vape pens" and other drug paraphernalia and products to underage people.

The raids were a result of multiple complaints from community members to the Suffolk County Police Department Narcotics Crimes Section.

Officers investigated 22 local businesses for sale of illegal products to underage people, but only three (3) of the businesses investigated were caught caught selling these “vape” products to underage people.

One of the vape shops sold additional nicotine products to undercover police agents, disguised as young adults. 

All arrested detainees were arraigned at the First District Court in Central Islip, and released pending trial.