Babylon Officials Seize Illegal Flavored Vapes From Deer Park Store

BABYLON, NY — A Deer Park convenience store was busted on Monday for selling flavored vape products, according to Town of Babylon officials.

The Town of Babylon Investigative Unit confiscated nearly 900 illegal flavored vapes from AAA Convenience Shop at 181 Bay Shore Road in Deer Park, officials told Patch.

"The Town of Babylon is committed to enforcement of state, county and town laws to ensure the health and safety of our children," said Councilman Terence McSweeney, chairman of the Town's Public Safety Committee.

Officials also pointed out that flavored vape products found on site—strawberry banana, blueberry watermelon, black cherry, cherry bomb and more—are "meant to target children to get them hooked on nicotine products."

Although it was the store's first offense for selling illegal vapes, it was busted for selling vapes to a minor in 2023.

Officials shared a letter with Patch from Babylon Town Attorney Joseph Wilson addressed to 175 Bayshore Commons LLC, the "entity that owns the property," dated February 7, 2023.

In the letter, Wilson stated that selling "restricted nicotine vape products to a minor" is a misdemeanor crime. In addition, the Town of Babylon Ordinance Enforcement Officers found the shop to be in "violation of town codes in that the business not have certificate of occupancy to operate a smoke shop."

Wilson added that the business was in violation for displaying a sign that said "Smoke Shop."

The bust follows the September 10 closure of a North Babylon convenience store after the Town of Babylon busted and employee for selling vape products to an underage customer at Milk N' Things on Deer Park Avenue.

The town's Code Enforcement team ordered the store to close indefinitely and also seized numerous illegal flavored vape products from the store, police said.

The order prohibits occupancy of the building and states that violating the order is a "Class A misdemeanor which is punishable by up to a year in prison.