Baltimore Raids Target Illegal Smoke Shops

Baltimore’s crackdown on illegal smoke shops is heating up, with a major raid last week shutting down a cannabis operation in East Baltimore and arresting two employees—including a 17-year-old facing adult charges. Cops seized a ghost gun, suspected cocaine, and hundreds of unlicensed THC products from VIP Smoke Cigars, a store in Senator Bill Ferguson’s district. Ferguson says these shops are cash cow hubs for illegal activity and must be shut down, while community members voice frustration over the market’s unchecked growth. Despite the raid, the store remained open Friday, but undercover deputies are now on patrol all summer to keep illegal sales off the streets. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6d3e06ecf75a1ac9