RED BANK: POLICE STING TARGETS VAPE SHOP

Monmouth convenience store at 22 Monmouth Street. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)

By BRIAN DONOHUE

An employee of a Monmouth Street vape shop was arrested last week as part of a Red Bank Police Department’s investigation into sales of tobacco and THC-related products to minors, police said.

According to a news release from the Red Bank Police Department, officers launched an investigation after receiving complaints that employees at the store were selling prohibited merchandise to customers under 21.

On August 18, officers with the RBPD detective bureau and patrol division conducted a “controlled purchase” at the store, police said.

“During the investigation, an employee allegedly sold certain regulated products to an undercover officer who was under 21 years of age without requesting or checking identification,” the press release reads.

A redbankgreen reporter visited the store seeking comment on the arrest and was told the owner was not available. A message was left and this post will be updated with comments if we hear back.

The employee was identified as Nowrid Khan, 26, of Tinton Falls.

Khan was subsequently charged with:

One count of Providing Certain Items to a Person Under 21 Years of Age, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-13.1(a), a petty disorderly persons offense; and
One count of Sale or Distribution of an Electronic Smoking Device to a Person Under 21 Years of Age, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2A:170-51.4(a)(2).

Here’s more from the press release:

The investigation was conducted with the assistance of Lieutenant James Deponte, Sergeant Sean Hauschildt, Sergeant Paul Perez, Detective Michael Zadlock, and SLEO I Cameryn Connallon.

The Red Bank Police Department would like to remind local businesses that the sale or distribution of tobacco, electronic smoking devices, THC products, and other regulated products to persons under the age of 21 is prohibited by New Jersey law. Businesses are responsible for properly identifying customers and complying with all applicable state laws and regulations.

Khan is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. He is scheduled to appear in Red Bank Municipal Court at a later date.

The Red Bank Police Department will continue to investigate complaints involving the unlawful sale of regulated products to minors and will take appropriate enforcement action when violations are identified.

The bust marks the latest in a string of similar incidents involving vape and smoke shops in town.

In September, 2025, RBPD officers and state Treasury Department officers raided Dynasty Smokes at 160 Monmouth Street, arresting the owner an employee on charges of selling marijuana from the shop. The business closed down shortly after the arrests.

In May, 2024, employees of three downtown Red Bank smoke shops were arrested and charged with selling restricted products to an underage buyer as part of a police investigation.

redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.