Community Awareness Leads to Arrests of Hoboken Store Employees Illegally Selling Controlled Substances

Community awareness has led the Hoboken Police Department to shutdown an illegal narcotics operation working out of a Washington Street storefront.   Two adults and a juvenile have been arrested in connection with a two month long narcotics investigation.

According to the city, the store was involved in illegal sales of controlled substances out of 521 Washington Street.  The Hoboken Police Department Street Crimes Unit began the investigation into Hoboken Exotica back in February.  The investigation was in response to multiple community complaints alleging that the store was selling cannabis illegally without local and state licenses.

According to city spokesperson Marci Ruben, the investigation involved a series of undercover purchases set up and conducted by members of the department’s Street Crimes Unit.  Police Chief Steven Aguiar stated, “The sale and use of unregulated cannabis and illicit drugs has been prevalent across the state.  Thank you to the community for coming forth to report the illegal sale of cannabis and to the hard-working men and women of the police department for their thorough investigation.”

The weeks long investigation led to the seizure of unregulated marijuana and the arrest of 33-year old Brahim Brahim of Jersey City.  Brahim, an employee of the store, was charged with multiple counts of CDS Distribution, including the sale within 500 feet of public property (a park) and 1,000 feet of school property. Brahim was released on his own recognizance, pending a court date.

Also arrested as a result of this investigation was 32-year old Esa Alsaedi of Kew Gardens, New York, who was identified as the store’s owner.   He was charged with employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme, which is a second-degree crime.  Alsaedi turned himself into the Hoboken Police Department, was processed and remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility. He was released pending a court date.

The Juvenile was processed for the role played in the illegal distribution of marijuana and released.

All charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.