Hanover vape shop owner, employee charged in marijuana distribution case

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The owner and an employee of a Hanover County smoke and vape shop have been arrested following search warrants conducted in a marijuana distribution case.

The Hanover County Sheriff's Office has arrested 28-year-old Mostafa Ahmed, of Mechanicsville, and 38-year-old Munef Al Asad, of Prince George County, following search warrants conducted at the Cloud Smoke and Vape shop in Hanover County, as well as the shop owner's residence.

On Jan. 29, investigators with the Hanover County Sheriff's Office conducted a search warrant at Cloud Smoke and Vape, located in the 7500 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike.

Authorities said that, based on an extensive investigation that began in December 2024, investigators developed probable cause for search warrants at the Cloud Smoke and Vape shop in Hanover and the owner's residence in the 2800 block of Deer Run Drive in Prince George County.

Based on evidence recovered at both locations, Ahmed, who officials said was an employee at Cloud Smoke and Vape, was arrested for two counts of distribution of marijuana, both of which are felonies.

Hanover investigators also charged the owner of the shop, Asad, with conspiracy to distribute over five pounds of marijuana, in addition to multiple other charges obtained by the Prince George Police Department.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact the Hanover County Sheriff's Office at 804-365-6140.