NYC’s “Operation Padlock to Protect” Shuts Down Million Dollar Illegal Cannabis Distribution Center in The Bronx

New York City officials have ramped up their efforts to combat illegal cannabis distribution, with Mayor Eric Adams and Sheriff Anthony Miranda announcing the shutdown of two unlicensed shops in the Bronx. 

The operation, part of the city’s “Operation Padlock to Protect” initiative, uncovered what appeared to be a distribution center supplying other illegal sellers.

At the site, located at 3770 East Tremont Avenue, authorities on Wednesday, July 17th, seized a variety of edible psilocybin mushrooms and 176 pounds of cannabis flower. 

The drugs were hidden in various spots, including beneath a couch, behind ceiling tiles, inside filing cabinets, and within luggage bags; some were even found displayed openly.

Two employees were arrested during the raid, though the owner was not present at the time.

Mayor Adams emphasized the challenge of identifying these illicit operations, told NY1, “This is what makes this job so challenging because no one is advertising that this is a cannabis location. It looked like a normal deli or bodega.” 

The raid resulted in the seizure of over $3 million worth of products.

Sheriff Miranda elaborated on the extent of the raid, noting that the authorities shut down the shops and intercepted a warehouse storing additional illegal products. 

“When you shut down this type of location—which actually is a distribution—it’s a network that they distribute to other locations, not just in the Bronx but in other parts of the city as well,” he explained.

The crackdown has garnered community support, with officials stressing the health and safety risks associated with unregulated cannabis products. 

Mayor Adams also pointed out that these illegal shops often attract criminal activity, describing them as “magnets for violence.”

Since launching “Operation Padlock to Protect” in May, the city has closed approximately 640 illegal smoke shops, confiscated about $20 million in illegal products, and issued around $53 million in fines and penalties.