What Happened with all the recent Smoke Shop Raids in Newport News?

Officers seized more than 62 pounds of marijuana, numerous THC vapes, psilocybin mushrooms, and edible products from the three businesses. All three shops were closed following the searches. One person, Mouhamed El Jily (associated with A-Z Smokehouse), was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and a firearms offense.  

Happy Smoke, previously open 24 hours a day, was among those shut down. Mayor Phillip Jones called the outcome “a big win for the city.” The raids came roughly two months after Newport News City Council unanimously passed a zoning ordinance in September 2025 regulating vape shops.

The rules defined vape shops (those with 20% or more of inventory, display space, or sales from related products), limited new shops’ hours to 9 a.m.–9 p.m., banned drive-thru service, required transparent windows, restricted them to certain commercial zoning, and required a 2,000-foot distance from schools and childcare centers.

Existing shops were largely grandfathered. Officials cited concerns about illegal drug sales, youth access, and public safety. Legitimate shop operators in the area also expressed frustration with businesses that allegedly sold illegal products out of the back or operated unrestricted 24/7 drive-thrus

About two weeks after the December shutdowns, Happy Smoke on Jefferson Avenue reopened.

Recent Incident at Happy Smoke

Last week (early October 2026), the same Happy Smoke location was the site of an attempted robbery that left one person with a non-life-threatening stab wound. Newport News police responded around 6:35 a.m. to the 11000 block of Jefferson Avenue.

An altercation occurred during the incident; one person was hospitalized for the stab wound, and another was treated at the scene. The case remains under investigation.

Jennifer Turner, whose husband works at the shop, described the sequence: A customer refused to show ID. The situation turned physical when the customer tried to go around the counter to take merchandise. An employee hit the customer in the head with an object and tackled him. Store video (not publicly released) reportedly shows a verbal argument followed by the customer attempting to go around the counter and the employee’s response. Turner noted her husband has had prior close calls at the 24-hour business.

Broader Context

The December 2025 actions were presented by city leaders as enforcement against illegal activity rather than a blanket crackdown on legal tobacco/vape retail. Virginia law prohibits the sale or distribution of marijuana and limits personal possession. The earlier ordinance aimed to curb problematic operations while allowing compliant businesses to continue. Happy Smoke’s quick reopening and the subsequent robbery attempt illustrate the continued challenges around these high-traffic, late-night retail spots on major corridors like Jefferson Avenue.

Police have not released further updates on charges from the robbery attempt or additional arrests tied to the original drug investigation beyond the one announced in December.