Operation 'Padlock to Protect' Results

By Idy Perl
Mayor Adams, the NYC Sherrif, NYPD Commissioner, and NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection are celebrating a milestone in the “Operation Padlock to Protect.”
This enforcement program to shut down illegal smoke shops in NYC launched just three months ago and has so far closed down 779 shops and issued 41,502 counts of violations, totaling $65,671,487 in penalties.
In July alone, several illegal manufacturing, processing, and distribution networks were shut down, including a smoke shop in Boro Park, as previously reported here.
“For too long, illegal shops have contributed to a feeling that anything goes on our streets, while targeting our most vulnerable — including children — with dangerous, counterfeit products marketed as candy,” Mayor Adams said. “But today, we are celebrating that this is no longer being tolerated and we are making huge gains to protect communities.”

