Four men were arrested Tuesday for allegedly selling illegal drugs in packages that made it look like candy at two stores, one of which was near an elementary school, Suffolk County police said.
Store owners Ali Anwar, 44, of West Islip, and 42-year-old Hasnain Anwar of Seaford were each charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds, as was one of their employees, 30-year-old Shevin Mahabal of Valley Stream. A second employee, 47-year-old Joseph Orso of Hempstead, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance along with Mahabal and Ali Anwar.
Following community complaints, Narcotics Section, Criminal Intelligence Section, and Third Squad Special Operations Team detectives executed search warrants at Exit 42 Deli on Spur Drive South in Bay Shore and Legit 100 Smoke Shop on Higbie Lane in West Islip, where investigators said they seized large quantities of psilocybin mushrooms, concentrated cannabis, marijuana, and cocaine.
Some of the drugs were packaged as name-brand candy bars, police said. The West Islip store is located within 1,000 feet of an elementary school. Ali Anwar was additionally charged with trademark counterfeiting.
All four men will be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip.
