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New York State sues Ilion vape shop for illegal sales

ILION, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and Attorney General Letitia James are suing G Smoke 360 Corp. and Liberty Smokeland, two companies operating a vape shop in Ilion, and owners Galal Kaid and Ali Al Shugga for violating state laws by selling flavored e-cigarettes, including to minors, and operating without the required licenses.

The attorney general filed the lawsuit in Herkimer County State Supreme Court, alleging a repeated pattern of illegal activity at the store G Smoke/Liberty Smokeland including the sale of illegal flavored vapes, persistent failure to verify the ages of customers, and several additional violations of New York public-health law.

“Despite repeated enforcement actions and warnings, G Smoke has continued to flout state laws and sell harmful products to children, which is why we are taking action to shut their business down,” James said in a news release announcing the lawsuit. “New York has zero tolerance for businesses that prioritize profit over public health, especially when they put our children’s health at risk. My office is committed to holding bad actors accountable and protecting our youth from the dangers of nicotine addiction and predatory marketing practices. This lawsuit is a warning to all retailers: if you sell harmful products to our youth, you will face the full force of the law.”

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A DOH investigation found repeated sales of flavored vapes to minors, including incidents where no proof of age was requested. In one case, a minor buyer was sold a strawberry-mango flavored vape even after stating they did not have identification. Inspections also revealed flavored vape products, including more than 5,700 packages, were openly displayed for sale on counters and in self-service bins in clear violation of public-health laws.

It is illegal to sell flavored vapor products containing nicotine at retail stores in New York, and it is illegal to sell any vapor products to individuals under the age of 21. G Smoke sold vapor products without a valid license, which is also illegal, according to the release.

Despite enforcement actions and significant fines, including a $285,700 penalty issued in January 2024, G Smoke continued its illegal operations, according to James. Recent investigations, including in May and August of 2024, revealed that the store remains a hub for the illegal sale of flavored vapes marketed to youth.

The state attorney general seeks to shut down G Smoke and permanently prohibit Kaid and Al Shugaa from selling vapor products by imposing a permanent industry ban. James also seeks to recover fines, penalties, and all profits that G Smoke and its owners earned from their illegal activities.

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