HAUPPAGUE, NY - Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko and Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone today announced a successful action by the two Towns with the Suffolk County Police Department, against seven smoke shops that have been selling drug paraphernalia - in one case across the street from William Floyd High School, and in another, within a block of a Huntington Station methadone clinic.

The Towns obtained injunctions against the owners and operators of smoke shops in State Supreme Court late Tuesday, allowing the police to seize the paraphernalia at the seven locations. The court action followed purchases by undercover detectives and Town law department investigators of items such as smoking bongs and pipe smoking screens, after making it clear to the store clerks that the purchases were for drug use.

Huntington and Brookhaven sought court orders following the investigation by Suffolk police and Town law investigators to allow the seizure of the merchandise. Owners of the stores face civil fines of between $1,000 and $10,000 for each violation.

One of the stores, the Handy Dandy Food Store in Mastic Beach, is located directly across the street from William Floyd High School. Another, the Gotham Smoke Shop at 681 Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station, is located a block from a methadone clinic.

“We will no longer stand idly by while so-called ‘responsible’ businesses in our town make money off of selling bongs and pipes to our children in our neighborhoods and across the street from our schools,” said Supervisor Mark Lesko. “This is the first initiative of Brookhaven’s new Quality of Life task force, which spearheaded this effort with the Suffolk County Police Department, and we successfully the seized thousands of dollars worth of drug paraphernalia from our streets.”

"These are quality of life as well as legal issues," said Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone. "These stores all operate in close proximity to residential neighborhoods, school bus stops and highly-trafficked retail establishments such as pharmacies and supermarkets. Law-abiding citizens should not be subjected to the discomfort of passing by these establishments while shopping, nor to the potential that people buying these items will use them immediately after purchase. I commend the Suffolk County Police Department for its vigilance in cracking down on so-called 'head shops' as part of its many-pronged war illegal drugs."

At the Gotham location in Huntington Station, police seized 19 gravity knives and three daggers, which resulted in the arrest of Mustafa Nayci, 29, of 42 Colby Dr., Coram. Nayci was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

“These are the subcontractors of the illegal drug trade, who try to sell their products in plain view on the streets of our neighborhoods, and across from our schools. Today, we’re sending a message that we will not tolerate this any longer, and will prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law,” said Councilman Keith Romaine.

"People that sell drug paraphernalia are no different than drug dealers. We have an obligation to protect our young people from the drug-related crime that deteriorates communities. Closing these head shops is the first step in the revitalization of our communities that are plagued by drug abuse," said Councilwoman Constance Kepert.

“The businesses that were selling this drug paraphernalia were on main roads in our community in places that are frequented by families and children, such as delis, convenience stores and gas stations. That’s disturbing, and won’t be tolerated,” said Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh. “We’re serving notices on stores like this that you decide to sell these items, expect us to come after you.”


The shops where the drug paraphernalia was seized are:

• Gotham Smoke Shop, 1271 Route 25, Middle Island;
  
• Shirley Express Convenience, 450B William Floyd Parkway, Shirley;
  
• Handy Dandy Food Store, 210 Mastic Beach Road, Mastic Beach;
  
• Ocean Gas Station, 980 Montauk Highway, Shirley;
  
• Bellport Quick Stop Deli, 461 Station Road, Bellport;
  
• Utopia, 2436 Route 25, Centereach; and
  
• Gotham Smoke Shop; 681 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station