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Crime & Safety

7-Eleven Customers, Employee Shocked by Sag Harbor Raid

Local 7-Eleven is one of many across Long Island and in Virginia raided on Monday.

By Andrew Lenoir

"This one too?"

That phrase  repeated often Monday as confused and curious patrons attempted to open the locked doors of the Sag Harbor 7-Eleven.

Sag Harbor Village is buzzing in the wake of a federal raid on the Water Street convenience store. Early Monday morning agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security descended on the business as part of a sting operation targeting at least 10 other franchises on Long Island and others held by the same owners in Virginia.

Each local interviewee had a different version of the charges, ranging from money laundering and identity theft to selling babies. Sag Harbor residents expressed disbelief, citing that the Pakistani employees were “nice guys”, and many local workers wondered where they would go for their morning coffee. Though some residents expressed concern over the involvement of the Department of Homeland Security, especially “given our relationship with Pakistan,” cooler heads prevailed.

 “At least it’s not terrorism,” said an employee of a neighboring shop. “Thank God.”

Authorities on Monday indicted nine people from New York and Virginia — including a Head of the Harbor couple — for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants into the country and forcing them to work long hours for minimal pay.


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