Law Enforcement Raids Bath Salts Operations
MELBOURNE, Florida -- On July 25, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Melbourne Police Department participated with the Drug Enforcement Administration in a nationwide operation dubbed 'Operation Log Jam' targeting the manufacture and distribution of synthetic marijuana and “bath salts.”
Nationally, Operation
Log Jam was conducted jointly by the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service
Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection
Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
FBI, Food and Drug Administration’s Office
of Criminal Investigations, as well as countless
state and local law enforcement members in
more than 109 U.S. cities and targeted every
level of the synthetic designer drug industry,
including retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers.
In Brevard County, six search warrants were executed at various locations, including a warehouses in Melbourne, residences and retail stores, where the suspected items were being sold and manufactured.
As a result of the local searches, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office says that 22,577 individual packages of synthetic marijuana and 8,363 individual packages of “bath salts” were seized. In addition, over 10,200 pounds of plant material was seized that was being prepared for chemical treatment. The plant material, when combined with certain listed chemicals, is packaged and sold as synthetic marijuana.
At the time of the search, eight foreign nationals who allegedly maintain an illegal U.S. citizen status were arrested. Law enforcement says that those individuals were being used to prepare and process the materials seized. The Department of Homeland Security responded to the crime scenes and took custody of the individuals.
"This operation effectively removed thousands of pounds of thisnew poison from our streets," said Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker. "It is important to increase the public's awareness of the dangers associated with this garbage, which is specifically targeting our kids. I applaud the partnership with the DEA and US Attorney's Office to assist in the investigative efforts and prosecution. Today is a strong first step in targeting the manufacturers, educating our parents and putting an end to this drug use."
Nationwide, more than 90 individuals were arrested and more than five million packets of finished designer synthetic drugs were seized in the first-ever nationwide law enforcement action against the synthetic designer drug industry responsible for the production and sale of synthetic drugs that are often marketed as bath salts, Spice, incense, or plant food. More than $36 million in cash was also seized.
As of today, the DEA says that more than 4.8 million packets
of synthetic cannabinoids (ex. K2, Spice) and
the products to produce nearly 13.6 million
more, as well as 167,000 packets of synthetic
cathinones (ex. bath salts), and the products
to produce an additional 392,000 were seized.
“Although tremendous progress has been
made in legislating and scheduling these dangerous
substances, this enforcement action has disrupted
the entire illegal industry, from manufacturers
to retailers,” said DEA Administrator
Michele M. Leonhart. “Togeter with our
federal, state and local law enforcement partners,
we are committed to targeting these new and
emerging drugs with every scientific, legislative,
and investigative tool at our disposal.”
Over
the past several years, the DEA says there has been a
growing use of, and interest in, synthetic
cathinones (stimulants/hallucinogens) sold
under the guise of “bath salts” or “plant
food.” Marketed under
names such as “Ivory Wave,” “Purple
Wave,” “Vanilla
Sky,” or “Bliss,” these
products are comprised of a class of dangerous
substances perceived to mimic cocaine, LSD,
MDMA, and/or methamphetamine. Users have reported
impaired perception, reduced motor control,
disorientation, extreme paranoia, and violent
episodes. The long-term physical and psychological
effects of use are unknown but potentially
severe.
These products have become increasingly popular,
particularly among teens and young adults and
those who mistakenly believe they can bypass
the drug testing protocols that have been set
up by employers and government agencies to
protect public safety. They are sold at a variety
of retail outlets, in head shops, and over
the Internet. However, they have not been approved
by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for
human consumption or for medical use, and there
is no oversight of the manufacturing process.
Smokable
herbal blends marketed as being “legal” and
providing a marijuana-like high have also
become increasingly popular, particularly among
teens and young adults, because they are easily
available and, in many cases, they are more
potent and dangerous than marijuana. These
products consist of plant material that has
been coated with dangerous psychoactive compounds
that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Just as with the synthetic cathinones, synthetic
cannabinoids are sold at a variety of retail
outlets, in head shops and over the Internet. Brands
such as “Spice,” “K2,” “Blaze,” and “Red
X Dawn” are labeled as incense to mask
their intended purpose.
While
many of the designer drugs being marketed
today that were seized as part of Operation
Log Jam are not specifically prohibited in
the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Controlled
Substance Analogue Enforcement Act of 1986
(AEA) allows these drugs to be treated as controlled
substances if they are proven to be chemically
and/or pharmacologically similar to a Schedule
I or Schedule II controlled substance. A
number of cases that are part of Operation
Log Jam will be prosecuted federally under
this analogue provision, which specifically
exists to combat these new and emerging designer
drugs.
There were no charges as related to the seizures in Brevard County - but the investigation is ongoing.
DEA has used its emergency scheduling authority
to combat both synthetic cathinones (the so-called
bath salts like Ivory Wave, etc.) and synthetic
cannabinoids (the so-called incense products
like K2, Spice, etc.), temporarily placing
several of these dangerous chemicals into Schedule
I of the CSA. Congress has also acted, permanently
placing 26 substances into Schedule I of the
CSA.
In
2010, poison centers nationwide responded
to about 3,200 calls related to synthetic “Spice” and “bath
salts.” In 2011, that number jumped to
more than 13,000 calls. Sixty percent of the
cases involved patients 25 and younger.
"This operation is just another example of the outstanding
accomplishments that are possible with partnerships between federal, state and local law
enforcement," said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeff Walsh. "DEA is very proud of the relationship we share with the Brevard County Sheriff's
Office in our continued efforts to address the illicit drugs that are plaguing our communities.
Sheriff Parker has an incredible team working to make your streets safe."
Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to call the Brevard County Sheriff’s
Office Special Investigations Division at 321-633-1216 or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477)
.
All calls to CRIMELINE are confidential, and callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward for information leading to an arrest.
PHOTO CREDIT: BCSO
PHOTO CREDIT: BCSO
