The West Hartford Police Department arrested two people associated with Qais Convenience Shop in connection with selling illegal products as well las selling to underage patrons.

By Ronni Newton

The owners of Qais Convenience Shop at 74 LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center face numerous charges stemming from an investigation launched by police after parents of West Hartford students reported that their children had obtained tobacco and THC products at the shop.

West Hartford Police Department’s Community Support Unit (CSU) and the School Resource Officers (SROs) received complaints from several parents about the sale of products to minors as well as the sale of THC products which the store was not licensed to sell to anyone, police said in a news release.

CSU detectives performed a compliance check on May 11, 2023, police said, in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Drug Control Division.

According to police, when CSU and DCP personnel performed the check, “several illegal products were found on display inside the store in plain view.”

Police said they seized the illegal items, which included 113 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products and one item which contained psilocybin mushrooms, which is a hallucinogen. The THC concentrate in the items seized was the equivalent of 15 pounds of marijuana, police said.

West Hartford Police submitted warrants for the store owners, which were approved by Hartford Superior Court, for owners Faisal Nasher and Qais Alhagr. Both have now turned themselves in, police said.

Faisal Nasher. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

Nasher, 45, of Hartford, turned himself in to West Hartford Police own July 12. His charges include possession with intent to sell more than 1 kilogram of a cannabis-type substance, possession of an equivalent amount of cannabis and cannabis products, possession of a controlled substance, and possession with intent to sell a hallucinogen.

Nasher was released on $15,000 non-surety bond and appeared in court for arraignment on July 20. His next court date is Aug. 17, according to online court records.

Qais Alhagr. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

Alhagr, 42, of Simsbury, turned himself in to West Hartford Police on July 18. He also faces charges of possession with intent to sell more than 1 kilogram of a cannabis-type substance, possession of an equivalent amount of cannabis and cannabis products, possession of a controlled substance, and possession with intent to sell a hallucinogen.

Alhagr was released on $15,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on July 27.

Police ask that anyone with further information about this case, or anyone with a drug-related complaint, contact West Hartford Police at 860-523-5203, or use via the anonymous tip line 860-570-8969 or email [email protected].

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