Marijuana, cash, guns seized when Lexington police search four vape shops
More than 600 pounds of marijuana and hemp flower were seized from four local vape shops this week, and four people have been charged with trafficking, the Lexington Police Department said.
Lexington police seized 620 pounds of marijuana and hemp flower, more than $210,000, several guns and illegal THC products when they executed search warrants at the shops Wednesday, police said in a Facebook post Friday afternoon.
Police charged Ali Mazab, Sunil Bhattarai, Virginia Bates and Sammy Whitaker Jr. with hemp trafficking greater than 5 pounds, first offense.
Citations filed in Fayette District Court identify the four as owners of the shops police searched.
Mazab is the owner of Kings Vape & Tobacco at 196 East New Circle Road. Bhattarai owns Vape & Smoke House at 1650 Bryan Station Road. Bates owns Purple Haze at 420 East New Circle Road. Whitaker is co-owner of Hometown Cannabis at 501 East New Circle Road, according to the citation.
Arrest citations for the four people charged did not mention the seizure of marijuana. Police said in the citations that they found “hemp and hemp flower” and “hemp and hemp products” when they executed search warrants at the businesses.
Police said their Narcotics Enforcement Unit is still investigating, and anyone with information should contact police.
This story was originally published August 8, 2025 at 6:28 PM.
