Denville police helped carry out a sweeping smoke shop crackdown across Morris County, a multi-agency investigation that ended with simultaneous raids on 11 stores and criminal charges against their owners and employees, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
On July 1, 2026, investigators executed eleven search warrants at smoke shops and convenience stores in Boonton, Montville Township, Randolph Township and Roxbury Township, along with a residence and a vehicle. The stores were suspected of selling marijuana, intoxicating hemp products including THC vapes, and illegally flavored vapes without a license to operate as cannabis dispensaries.
Authorities seized 17,323 vapes, 56,699 units of THC vape products weighing roughly 125.5 pounds, 328 pounds of gummies and edibles, 16.5 pounds of marijuana, about 100 canisters of nitrous oxide and $45,265 in cash.
The Denville Township Police Department worked the case alongside the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, county health officials and five other local police departments. Denville Police Chief Scott Welsch joined Prosecutor Robert Carroll and Sheriff James Gannon in announcing the charges. No Denville businesses were among the stores raided.
The investigation began in April 2026 as part of a New Jersey Attorney General initiative targeting smoke shops that sell illegal flavored vapes, intoxicating hemp products and marijuana. Charges against the store owners and employees include conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, possession with intent to distribute and money laundering. One Boonton store received a written warning and was not charged. Prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may follow.
For more Denville police coverage, read our reports on the DWI arrest at a green light on Route 46 and the Denville explosives suspect ordered held for trial.
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Charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
