Three Warren County smoke shops were padlocked and closed this week after an undercover operation found they illegally sold cannabis, flavored vapes, and nitrous oxide to people under 21, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office said.

The investigation began in October, when the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit teamed with the New York State Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement to run a compliance detail using six volunteers under 21. Officials said three of the five shops visited sold restricted products to the underage participants. Case files were forwarded to the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Department of Health (DOH).

On Nov. 18, OCM obtained court-approved access orders to inspect Smoke Plus on State Route 9, 212 Smoke on Quaker Road, and Queen Exotic on South Western Avenue. During the inspections, OCM seized illicit cannabis products while DOH identified thousands of flavored vape items banned for sale in New York. All three businesses were immediately padlocked and ordered closed.

Investigators reported finding approximately 2,500 flavored vape products at Smoke Plus, 1,500 at 212 Smoke, and 300 at Queen Exotic. The stores face fines ranging from $600 to more than $37,000, depending on prior violations.

Two employees, both from Glens Falls, were charged with criminal sale of cannabis in the third degree for selling to someone under 21 and with violating Public Health Law for selling nitrous oxide to a minor. Both were issued appearance tickets for Queensbury Town Court.

This article was adapted from an original report published on cbs6albany.com. All rights belong to the original publisher.