by Nick Beres
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. - The TBI led a huge crackdown on illegal synthetic drugs targeting the dealers who agents said sell the product while thumbing their nose at a new law.
"Operation Synful Smoke" involved raids on thirty-six convenience stores and markets on Wednesday morning in Rutherford County, which authorities said sell plant food, bath salts and incense. Those products are abused by people who smoke, snort or inject the synthetic drugs and many have become sick or even died.
The state legislature made the sale of such products illegal in July. But over-the-counter sales of the items have remained strong despite the law and the high price. A single package of incense can sell for $30.
"We're going to confiscate. We have warrants," said Rutherford county sheriff Robert Arnold who led a raid on a tobacco and beer market in Rockvale.
At the same time, TBI agents and police from Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne served similar warrants at other markets targeted by undercover investigations.
"We have had an explosion of synthetic drugs in this state," said TBI director Mark Gwyn who helped organize the operation with the state Attorney General's office and DA Bill Whitesell.
Arnold's raid of the market led agents to seize hundreds of packages of sythetic drugs, glass pipes and a large amount of cash.
The market owner, Fady Henin, said the products he sold are not for human consumption.
NewsChannel 5's Nick Beres asked him, "Are you telling me you don't think people smoke this?"
Henin responded, "In the store it is incense. Once it's out the door what they do I don't care."
Henin said he sold the products only to adults.
State representative Rick Womick, of Rockvale, lives nearby the store and applauds the sheriff's efforts to enforce the law Womick helped pass this past summer.
"They're getting it off the shelves and out of the hands of kids," said Womick.
Store owners like Henin were not arrested or charged with any crime. But items were confiscated and the cases will likely go to a grand jury.
Meanwhile, Metro police raided a warehouse on Lafayette Street in Nashville. They believe the business was a major supplier of synthetic marijuana to markets and stores in middle Tennessee.
TBI Director Mark Gwyn said the agency was sending a message that store or market across state that choose to sell these substances has been put on notice to stop.
Officers met at 8:30 a.m. at a secure location in Murfreesboro for a briefing and to organize their efforts.
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