Oakland smoke shop accused of ‘criminal profiteering’ after cops seized mushrooms, weed, stolen forklift

OAKLAND — Police here say they’ve busted a local smoke shop for “criminal profiteering” after finding evidence it was selling banned or illegal products without a license.

The late Jan. 6 raid focused on a smoke shop and adjacent warehouse on the 2400 block of San Pablo Avenue in Oakland. Police say they seized psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, banned flavored tobacco and untaxed cigarettes from the two locations, including products that were stashed in hidden compartments inside the store.

They also reportedly seized a forklift that had been stolen from The Crucible, an Oakland-based nonprofit art school. The smoke shop had been previously sent cease and desist orders, and similar contraband was recovered from a late December inspection there, authorities said.

On top of the consumable items, police say they recovered evidence that illegal fireworks were being sold at the store.