A gas station attendant and owner were arrested Thursday night after a police investigation revealed they were unlawfully dealing with children and selling drug paraphernalia.
According to detectives, First Precinct police officers were conducting an investigation at the Citgo Gas Station on Bellmore Avenue after they had received multiple complaints about ongoing illegal sales of drugs and tobacco to minors.
After several hours of observation and interviewing youths leaving the gas station officers arrested the gas attendant Salih Elmali, 49, of North Bellmore.
Officers observed drug paraphernalia – including electronic scales, clear and colored plastic envelopes and clear glass stems – in the store available for purchase.
A short time after, the gas station owner Muzammal Afzal, 43, of East Meadow responded and was also arrested.
Elmali was charged with two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia 2nd Degree and five counts of Unlawfully Dealing With a Child. Afzal was charged with two counts of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia.
Both defendants were arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Friday.
