Ravenna vape shop owner charged with drug trafficking following search Monday

Jeff Saunders, Ravenna Record-Courier
·2 min read
Portage County Sheriff's Office units searched Puf City Vape and Smoke Shop in Downtown Ravenna Monday. The shop's owner is now facing a drug trafficking charge.
Portage County Sheriff's Office units searched Puf City Vape and Smoke Shop in Downtown Ravenna Monday. The shop's owner is now facing a drug trafficking charge.

The owner of a Ravenna vape shop was arrested Monday stemming from allegations that he was dealing in illegal narcotics, including to juveniles, following a search of the business.

Mohsen H. Saleh, 23, owner of Puf City Vape and Smoke Shop, was charged with second-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs in Portage County Municipal Court in Ravenna, according to court records. He was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday afternoon.

In a media release, the Portage County Sheriff's Office said sheriff's units executed a search warrant at the shop at 245 W. Main St. following a two-week investigation. The investigation began when the sheriff's office received a tip that illegal narcotics were hidden behind the counter and in a back room and that sales were being made to minors, according to the release.

Items allegedly containing illegal narcotics were found in a drawer during a search at Puf City Vape and Smoke Shop in downtown Ravenna Monday. The items are to be sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing.
Items allegedly containing illegal narcotics were found in a drawer during a search at Puf City Vape and Smoke Shop in downtown Ravenna Monday. The items are to be sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing.

The sheriff's office said it encountered customers inside the store, several of whom were allegedly minors.

Investigators found suspected THC products including gummies, vape cartridges, edibles and THC wax. Suspected psilocybin mushroom products including chocolate bars, drinks and gummies were also found, the sheriff reported.

The sheriff's office says the alleged drug products are being sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing.

While speaking to the store's owner, who is not identified in the release but is identified as Saleh in a complaint the sheriff's office filed in court, investigators learned that he had recently moved from New York and had opened the store about a month ago.

This sign could be seen in the window at Puf City Vape and Smoke Shop after Portage County Sheriff's Office units searched the shop Monday and found suspected illegal narcotics. The shop's owner has been charged with drug trafficking.
This sign could be seen in the window at Puf City Vape and Smoke Shop after Portage County Sheriff's Office units searched the shop Monday and found suspected illegal narcotics. The shop's owner has been charged with drug trafficking.

Saleh was booked into Portage County Jail at 7 p.m. Monday, according to a jail booking report. The report provides a New York address for Saleh, but court records give the store's address.

More: Police and SWAT search suspected 'drug house' next to Ravenna elementary school

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage sheriff searches Ravenna vape shop, files charge