SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Five South Dakota smoke shop owners have been indicted after a law enforcement sting uncovered the sale of illegal products.
The operation was conducted by the Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation, and targeted shops suspected of selling products in violation of state and federal law.
According to the AG’s Office, undercover officers conducted controlled buys of products at five different stores between June 11 and June 13. Attorney General Marty Jackley said all five stores had violations and he plans to work with state lawmakers to look at possible legislation changes targeting the smoke shops and type of products sold.
According to the AG’s Office, those indicted are:
Hughes County:
Bristol Nielsen, 29, doing business as Masterpiece Smoke Shop in Pierre faces one felony count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana of more than One Pound, which is a maximum sentence of 15 years in the state penitentiary.
Brown County:
Emad Zuhair Wazwaz, 31, doing business as All The Smoke in Aberdeen, got two misdemeanor counts of Possession, Sale, and Distribution of Substance for Purpose of Intoxication.
Lincoln County:
Saleh Jabr-Saleh Al Names, 26, doing business as Puff City in Sioux Falls got three misdemeanor counts of Possession, Sale, and Distribution of Substance for Purpose of Intoxication.
Minnehaha County:
Gamal Yahya Abdull Suhail, 35, doing business as Blazin’ Aces Smokes & Vapes in Sioux Falls has four misdemeanor counts of Possession, Sale, and Distribution of Substance for Purpose of Intoxication.
Pennington County:
Benjamin Rodriguez, 32, doing business as ZyGlam Smoke Shop in Rapid City got one misdemeanor count of Industrial Hemp for Smoking Prohibited.
KELOLAND News was at Jackley’s news conference Wednesday in Sioux Falls and will have more coverage online and on-air.
