Five South Dakota Smoke Shop Owners Indicted Following Statewide Sting Operation

Steve Jurrens
Sep 25
2 min read

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced the indictment of five smoke shop owners across the state following a coordinated law enforcement operation that uncovered the sale of illegal products in their businesses.

The sting, conducted between June 11 and June 13, 2025, involved undercover purchases at five separate locations. The operation was led by the Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.

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“This operation should serve as a warning to stop selling dangerous drugs in our communities,” said Attorney General Jackley. “We will continue working with our local law enforcement partners to protect our communities and keep our streets safe from dangerous and illegal products.”

The following individuals have been indicted:

· Brown County: Emad Zuhair Wazwaz, 31, of Blaine, MN, operating as All the Smoke in Aberdeen. Charged with two misdemeanor counts of Possession, Sale, and Distribution of a Substance for the Purpose of Intoxication, and one misdemeanor count of Sale or Distribution of Chemically Modified Industrial Hemp.

· Hughes County: Bristol Nielsen, 29, of Pierre/Ft. Pierre, operating as Masterpiece Smoke Shop in Pierre. Facing multiple felony charges, including Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana (over one pound), Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (psilocin), Violation of a Drug-Free Zone, and Keeping a Place for the Use or Sale of a Controlled Substance. Also charged with one misdemeanor count of Possession, Sale, or Distribution of a Substance for the Purpose of Intoxication.

· Lincoln County: Saleh Jabr-Saleh Al Names, 26, of Sioux Falls, operating as Puff City. Charged with three misdemeanor counts of Possession, Sale, or Distribution of a Substance for the Purpose of Intoxication and one count of Sale or Distribution of Chemically Modified Industrial Hemp.

· Minnehaha County: Gamal Yahya Abdull Suhail, 35, of Sioux Falls, operating as Blazin Aces Smokes & Vape. Charged with four misdemeanor counts of Possession, Sale, or Distribution of a Substance for the Purpose of Intoxication.

· Pennington County: Benjamin Rodriguez, 32, of Spearfish, operating as ZyGlam Smoke Shop in Rapid City. Charged with one misdemeanor count of Industrial Hemp for Smoking Prohibited and one count of Sale or Distribution of a Substance for the Purpose of Intoxication.

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The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office will prosecute all cases. Officials emphasized that the suspects are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution until proven guilty in a court of law.