Police: Trio counterfeited $1.6 million in vaping products

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Two East Meadow men and one Bellerose man were arrested on August 1 for allegedly counterfeiting over $1.6 million in trademark vaping products and selling $140,000 worth in such products throughout East Meadow, the surrounding communities and in Queens.

Nassau County police, state police and members of the Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Patrol executed several search warrants in regards to counterfeit goods being sold throughout Long Island.

Such locations included two East Meadow homes, Card Smart Store in East Meadow, Smoke and Vape Store in East Meadow, one Bellerose home, Card Smart Store in Levittown and Card Smart Store in Commack.

According to detectives, this led the county’s Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Unit to the arrest of Ali Asghar, 58, and Ali Zar, 33, both of East Meadow, and Ali Moosa, 35, of Bellerose. Police confiscated roughly $140,000 and $1.5 million in counterfeit vaping products from the men, who will be charged with first-degree trademark counterfeiting. They were arraigned on August 2 at the Town of Hempstead First District Court.

More as this story develops.