MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced July 22 that four owners of local smoke shops and markets throughout Monterey County have paid civil penalties for unlawfully selling flavored tobacco products, among other violations of law.
The sale of flavored tobacco products is prohibited in California. Tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive and harmful to adolescent brain development. Flavored vapes are the most widely used tobacco product among youth, and many tobacco users report that it is easy to purchase flavored tobacco products. These products also tend to be marketed toward youth, with flavorings such as “OMG Blow Pop,” “White Gummy Ice,” “Lemon Heasd” [sic] and “Peach Perfect Slush.”
Feras Hanna, the owner of King City Smoke, located at 560 Canal St., Suite B, in King City, and Soledad Smoke Shop, located at 3052 H Dela Rosa St. in Soledad, was ordered to pay a total of $30,435 in civil penalties and fees for selling flavored tobacco, as well as for failing to have workers compensation insurance and for paying an employee under the table in violation of labor laws.
Siram Inc., which operates a 7-Eleven franchise at 619 Main St. in Salinas, was ordered to pay $2,935 in civil penalties and fees for selling flavored tobacco vapes.
Vi Duong, the owner and operator of Duong Family Investment Inc., which does business as PDQ Mini Mart at 2000 Del Monte Blvd. in Seaside, was ordered to pay $2,935 in civil penalties and fees for selling flavored tobacco vapes.
Bhupinder Singh Nahal, the owner and operator of “Smoke Shop” located at 8055 San Miguel Canyon Road in Prunedale, was ordered to pay $2,000 in civil penalties and fees for unlawfully selling a flavored inhalable hemp product out of his tobacco shop.
The court also imposed injunctive terms prohibiting these facilities from violating these laws in the future.
In 2024, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office obtained a grant to investigate and enforce California’s tobacco laws. District Attorney investigators have made and attempted to make undercover purchases at 41 tobacco retail locations across the county.
“While 26 retailers were found to be in compliance with tobacco laws, the remaining stores are facing enforcement actions or have opted to close their business,” according to the DA’s Office.
Anyone with information on retailers that sell tobacco to minors or that sell unlawful flavored tobacco products should contact the Consumer Protection Unit of the District Attorney’s Office to make a complaint at 831-647-7770 or by email at co****************@**************ey.gov.
