LEWISTON — Several onlookers witnessed at least one person being detained and items seized Friday morning at Mogadishu Store at 240 Lisbon St.  

Around 11 a.m. Lewiston police officers were seen through the window of the store as patrons attempting to enter were met with a locked door.

Moments before, police were seen detaining a man.

After about 20 minutes, police emerged from the storefront with paper bags and a wheeled tote marked “Lewiston” and “Police Department.”

An officer immediately locked the door to the business and said entry was not being allowed.

Amid official statements saying Lewiston may see increased federal immigration enforcement in the coming days, onlookers speculated Immigration and Customs Enforcement was involved with the unnamed man’s detainment, but an officer at the scene said only local police were involved.

About 1:15 p.m., police released a statement on Facebook saying:

“This morning, the Lewiston Police Department executed a search warrant at the business of The Little Mogadishu Store, located at 240 Lisbon Street. The warrant was issued as part of a lengthy fraud investigation.

“Lewiston Police were assisted in this operation by the (U.S.) Department of Agriculture. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details are being released at this time.

“The Lewiston Police Department wishes to clarify that this investigation is not related to any immigration enforcement actions.”

Lewiston resident Amiah Letendre said was taking out her trash via an alley shared with the store when she saw a handcuffed man being led out the back.

“He was kind of staring at me and he was cuffed like this,” Letendre said, putting her wrists together out in front of her body. “I’ve been coming here for about a year. I know them and they know me, they know my baby.”

Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said he was nearby when he heard a false report that ICE agents were at the store.