Service Overview
Pursuant to the International Interfaith Court Standard Operating Procedure and the Interfaith Marshals Moral Codes & Turpitude (Section: Holy Commission & Active Missionary Outreach), the Interfaith Marshals Division has provided continuous faith-based security patrols, crisis intervention, and chaplaincy services to smoke shops in Philadelphia, PA, since 2019.
Our services include:
· Mobile patrols and security presence
· Crisis response and de-escalation
· Protection of property and persons
· Spiritual and community support in accordance with interfaith principles
To: Municipal, State, and Federal Authorities
From: International Interfaith Court – Chaplaincy Division
Date: October 26, 2023
Subject: Statement of Need: Urgent Public Safety & Humanitarian Crisis in Philadelphia Smoke Shops
- Executive Summary
The International Interfaith Court (IIC) Chaplaincy Division formally documents a critical and escalating public safety, public health, and child welfare crisis centered on numerous smoke shops operating within Philadelphia. Our on-the-ground chaplain patrols, led by Chaplains Mahdi Sufi El and Dr. Natema Bey, have uncovered systematic violations including child exploitation, illegal narcotics sales, unregulated labor, and an environment of escalating violence. This statement details our direct interventions, the legal and humanitarian violations observed, and the urgent need for a coordinated, multi-agency response to protect vulnerable populations and restore community safety.
II. Direct Intervention & Documented Child Exploitation (2022-2023)
In the course of our community patrols, Chaplains El and Bey identified and intervened in the cases of at least three children (minors) who were actively serving as over-the-counter marijuana sellers and cashiers within these establishments during 2022-2023.
· Our Intervention: We directly engaged with smoke shop management, educating them on the severe legal ramifications of their actions, focusing on:
· Violations of Federal and State Child Labor Laws
· Complicity in the Illegal Sale of Controlled Substances by a Minor
· Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
· Outcome & Escalation: Our chaplains' advocacy, backed by the threat of legal exposure, was the sole catalyst for the removal of these children from the premises. However, rather than being placed into protective services or lawful guardianship, shop staff reported these minors were relocated to affiliated smoke shops in California. This action transforms a case of local exploitation into a potential interstate human trafficking situation.
III. Catalog of Related Crimes & Violations
The presence and exploitation of children is symptomatic of a broader ecosystem of criminal activity and community harm:
1. Human Trafficking & Exploitation: The transported children were reportedly without parental guardians, domiciled with other Yemeni nationals, and lacked U.S. citizenship or legal status, making them acutely vulnerable to coercion and movement across state lines for labor.
2. Harboring and Employment of Unauthorized Aliens: A significant number of shop attendants are believed to be in the United States without legal authorization, creating a workforce susceptible to exploitation and reluctant to report crimes.
3. Creation of a Public Nuisance & Danger Zone: These shops have become focal points for violent competition. Non-affiliated drug dealers conglomerate inside and outside these establishments, harassing patrons and passersby as they vie for market share. This has resulted in:
· Repeated threats of violence against customers.
· Physical altercations in and around the shops.
· A palpable atmosphere of fear that degrades the quality of life and safety for the entire surrounding community.
- Unregulated and Illegal Narcotics Market: The overt sale of marijuana and other substances, often without adherence to Pennsylvania’s legal medical or recreational frameworks, fuels the aforementioned violence and attracts criminal elements.
IV. Statement of Need: IIC Chaplaincy Patrols
The crisis outlined above demonstrates the critical and ongoing need for the IIC Chaplaincy Patrols. Our role has evolved from pastoral care to that of essential frontline intervenors and documentarians.
· We serve as a deterrent to the most egregious forms of exploitation through our visible presence and direct engagement.
· We are often the first and only point of contact for vulnerable, undocumented, or trafficked individuals who fear engagement with traditional law enforcement or government agencies.
· We document patterns and gather intelligence on criminal operations that operate in the shadows of the community.
· We provide a bridge between a suffering community and the authorities capable of enacting systemic change.
Our successful, though limited, intervention with the exploited children proves that informed, persistent engagement can yield results. However, our chaplaincy efforts are a stopgap measure addressing symptoms.
