Synthetic marijuana labs run by crime ring busted
The Orlando Sentinel
Orlando, Florida
Kevin P. Connolly, Staff Writer
3:53 p.m. EDT
A crime ring that supplied synthetic marijuana across Florida was dismantled today after drug-manufacturing laboratories, homes and storage units were searched in a 7-month-long multi-agency bust in Flagler and St. Johns counties.
More than 80 law-enforcement officers from several agencies participated in the investigation, dubbed Operation Bad Dreamer, that originally started as a probe into the unlicensed sale of tobacco products.
The investigation expanded after authorities learned the crime organization was tied to manufacturing and distribution of synthetic marijuana, sometimes sold as Spice and under other brand names, according to Commander Bob Weber with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
"Investigators said the same group was involved in the sale of drug paraphernalia, used in the ingesting of these products, in Florida, as far south as Miami," Weber said in a statement.
Use of synthetic marijuana and other products called bath salts are on the rise, as are behavioral problems linked to abuse of the products, said Sheriff David Shoar with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
"There is an obvious increase in the use of these types of drugs,” Shoar said in a statement. "As law enforcement continues to address this type of criminal activity, there has been an identifiable increase in the types of abnormal behavior and violence associated with the use of synthetic drugs to include bath salts."
Eleven people have been taken into custody.
Five face these charges: violation of state racketeering laws, sale of controlled substances, delivery of drug paraphernalia, leasing and maintaining property used in the manufacturing of controlled substances as well as tobacco-tax evasion.
Their names were not immediately available.
"The synthetic compounds are marketed to our youth and young adults," Flagler County Sheriff James L. Manfre said. "They become the target of drug dealers who intentionally market these compounds through slick and gimmicky packaging. Those young people who unwittingly experiment with these types of products often find themselves ending up in hospital emergency rooms across the country."
"Your as mighty as the flower that grows the stones away"
Operation Bad Dreamer. Isnt that lovely?
Please note the shift in verbiage. Now they’re not just "people" or "head shop operators".
They’re a "crime ring" selling "unlicensed tobacco products" – yes, yet another PLANT that they think they have a right to a piece of said action, but they didn’t pay the bribe. They had to throw the term "bath salts" into the story several times just for face-eating scare factor, even though they didn’t find any. Now they get to throw the proverbial book at them with "racketeering" charges, as well as " leasing and maintaining property used in the manufacturing of controlled substances". How do they know they maintained the property? They could have a leaky sink, peeling wallpaper, and weeds in their flower bed. :biggrin
I’d think that if they maintained the property, there would be lesser charges for preventing public eyesore. :nannah:
This took away EIGHTY LEO’s and uncounted hours and expenses away from ACTUAL crime fighting (you know that shit’s dangerous!), all on the taxpayer’s dime. All so some asshole TWAD wannabe warriors can "justify" their continued employment.
I have issue with tobacco taxes anyway. Smokers have become an economic whipping boy who have to absorb whatever illegitimate "tax" is placed upon them. Actual cost is about $0.25 per pack to manufacture, leaving an approximate $5 per pack windfall. As this depresses the economic condition of low-income smokers even further, and the rich don’t care what they cost they can pay it and not feel the pinch), it’s just another class warfare tactic with an added dash of graft by the guv. Way I see it, the only reasonable tax that should be placed on tobacco is the normal sales tax for those states that charge it. No more, no less. Just another item of commerce. The government, on either state or local level, should not be entitled to an ‘extra cut’ depending on what the product is.
Sounds like the gov’t won’t stand for any competition to me
I’m glad organized? crime is looking to supply the spice market
good news for longevity
As mentioned, there are many dif types of crime and it only makes sense for scaredy cat
popo to pick the least violent crime to attack. These purported sellers of synthetics will likely
join the other 80% incarcerated for victimless crimes, which is quickly showing just how
un-free we freedom lovers really have it. I love where shurf james says "these syn compounds
are marketed to our youth & young adults" is This really important enough to chase while
violent people run around murdering, raping & pillaging? Those crimes concern Everyone, not
just young folks- These lousy cops need someone to fix their priority list. They weren’t hired to
make sensational news headlines.
Legalize the greenary then we won’t have alternatives fuck the government