United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ALBANY, N.Y. -   - Shukri Abdullah, 44, of Albany, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and fined $5,000 for possessing and intending to distribute synthetic cannabinoids.

The announcement was made by James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York (DEA) and United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, Northern District of New York.

In August 2015, authorities located two garbage bags, filled with synthetic cannabinoids that were packaged for resale, hidden behind the counter of a deli in Albany.  Abdullah is a co-owner of the business and was working behind the counter at the time of the seizure.

In October 2016, as part of his guilty plea, Abdullah admitted that he routinely obtained shipments of synthetic cannabinoids from suppliers in New York City, and paid between $7,000 and $9,000 in cash for each delivery.

Synthetic cannabinoids - often marketed as “Spice” and “K2” - are substances designed to mimic the effects of cannabis, and are often applied to herbal materials and then sold as a drug that can be smoked.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Albany County Sherriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wayne A. Myers.