Community raises concerns about illegal drug sales at Queens convenience store
WOODSIDE, Queens (PIX11) -- Community members in Woodside and Sunnyside say they are fed up with alleged drug sales going on 24 hours a day at the Green Point Convenience Corp store on Greenpoint Avenue.
PIX11's camera captured multiple people walking up to a rolled-down metal gate and someone inside passing items through small cut-out holes. It was still daylight and a playground was right across the street.
A business owner in the area, who didn't want to be identified, also recorded a similar video on his cell phone on Friday at 9 p.m. He tells PIX11 News "It doesn't appear it's just marijuana that's being sold."
He says the operation has been going on for months and he questions why it hasn't been stopped, adding: "I don't know if there are issues going into the store because the gate is down, but yeah, it's not that difficult to see what's going on, day or night."
Dirk McCall De Paloma, the executive director of Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District, tells PIX11 News he has personally complained numerous times to the NYC Sheriff's Office, their email hotline, and the NYPD's 108th precinct.
De Paloma says "They're operating in broad daylight, doing illegal activity across the street from a children's playground, less than a block from a children's school. It's inconceivable that this has been allowed to continue and it's a huge problem and it's getting worse."
De Paloma says concerned community members have tried to confront the alleged sellers, but tells PIX11 News "Two parents have been maced in the face and it's really problematic, there's a police report on one of them."
While PIX11 News was recording the storefront at 42-18 Greenpoint Avenue, a woman who was inside, put on a ski mask and sunglasses and rolled up the metal gate enough to crawl out from under it. She then crossed the street and confronted the news crew saying, "Why are you recording us?"
When told that the community had complained about alleged drug sales, she said she had the owner on her phone. His face was blurred out on Facetime and he would not give his name or phone number.
Eventually, he said he's doing "renovations to open a deli".
NYC Sheriff Anthony Miranda has been conducting inspections of smoke shops that are allegedly illegally selling marijuana and has padlocked hundreds since being given the legal authority to do so in April.
A spokesperson for Sheriff Miranda tells PIX11 News they did receive community complaints, but that was back in June. She said when they "attempted to inspect the location, it was vacant."
PIX11 News also reached out to the NYPD to see what was going on. A spokesperson said in an email "The Commanding Officer is aware of community complaints involving drug sales at 42 – 18 Greenpoint Avenue and the complaints are being investigated."