East Meadow man charged with hawking drug paraphernalia

Nassau County Police arrested and charged two men –– one the owner of a North Bellmore Citgo and the other an attendant at the station –– with criminal use of drug paraphernalia on Aug. 5.

According to 1st Precinct officers, the Citgo, at 1206 Bellmore Ave., was openly displaying drug paraphernalia for sale, including electronic scales, clear and colored plastic envelopes in varying sizes, and clear glass stems commonly used to smoke narcotics.

Police said they had received many complaints from community members saying drugs and cigarettes were being sold to minors from the gas station.

Police conducted a surveillance operation at the station on Aug. 5. After interviewing several youths leaving the station, police arrested Salih Elmali, 49, of Vollkommer Place in North Bellmore. He was charged with two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree and five counts of unlawfully dealing with a child.

A short time later, the station owner, Muzammal Afzal, 43, of Lois Court in East Meadow, was also arrested and charged with two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Both defendants were to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Aug. 6.

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