Recovered in the raid were more than 51,600 packets of synthetic marijuana, as well as drug paraphernalia, $210,000 in cash and four handguns, according to Hamilton police, who did not release any information about the operation until 24 hours after the raid began. The large seizure resulted in three arrests — one for a misdemeanor when marijuana was allegedly discovered in store employee’s purse. Two men so far have been charged with felonies in connection to the raids.
“This is an ongoing investigation and could lead to further charges,” Hamilton Detective Rich Burkhardt said.
Sami Sosa, owner of Wireless A, 938 Main St., said officers took cash and a lot of tobacco accessories, but came up empty when looking for synthetic drugs Thursday at his store.
“I thought they were going to rob me,” Sosa said. “They came in with scarfs on their faces, cracked my safe and took money out of the register. But they found nothing (synthetic marijuana).”
Sosa added his cell phone was also seized and he has no idea when he will get it back.
Sosa said he has not sold synthetic marijuana in months after being informed by authorities that it was illegal.
Police have said the sale of synthetic drugs has been on the rise in the area. Officers have had contact with subjects from other counties, as well as other states, who have driven to Hamilton for the sole purpose of purchasing these drugs.
“Maybe other stores were selling (synthetic marijuana), but not here,” Sosa said.
One of his store’s employees was — Erin Wilson, 21, of Oxford — was charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor for allegedly having marijuana in her purse.
Synthetic cannabinoids — also known as synthetic marijuana, herbal incense and potpourri, and popularly known by the brand names Spice and K2 — were linked to 11,406 of the 4.9 million drug related emergency department visits in 2010, according to a report released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The substance often contains synthetic cannabinoids and may contain substituted or synthetic cathinones, synthetic halucinogens, substituted phenethylamines, controlled substance analogues or other controlled substances.
“You don’t know what you are getting,” Burkhardt said. “It is in a nice little package and looks like something that wouldn’t hurt you, but it often contains chemicals that are dangerous.” He added a friend’s son who recently smoke some of the product become violent and was charged with a felony after assaulting a police officer.
Hani Ali said he and his girlfriend, Taylor Hatley, were at EZ Wireless, 1035 High St., on Thursday when officers entered the store with covered faces and search warrants.
“We are just employees,” Ali said. He said the owner of the business in overseas in Jordan.
Eight packets of synthetic marijuana were found in the store, according to police. Hatley and Ali said they had no knowledge of the synthetic marijuana and had never sold any.
“But people come in asking for it. Every day. Even today,” Ali said Saturday, just two days after the raid.
The couple’s residence was also searched, according to Hatley, and police seized some electronics, cell phones and money.
Hatley and Ali said they too are wondering when or if their items will be returned.
“Nobody arrested us,” Ali said.
Hamilton police said the raids were the result of a long-term local investigation of trafficking in synthetic marijuana at Wireless A, EZ Wireless and Pleasant Avenue Wireless & Smoke Shop, 2263 Pleasant Ave.; CK Wireless, 1595 S Erie Hwy.; and Bonkerz, 1413 Main St.
In addition to those businesses, Hamilton police and the Ohio Investigative Unit have been working on a joint investigation into the trafficking of synthetic marijuana at Sycamore Market, 602 Sycamore St., Hamilton.
Arrested Thursday were Tariq Mosa Abuawad, 30, of Wittenburg Drive in Fairfield, and Tareq Ahmed Saleem Odeh, 27, of Malvern Place in Cincinnati. Both men were born in Palestine, according to police reports.
Abuawad, who worked at Sycamore Market, was charged with drug abuse, a fourth-degree felony. Odeh was arrested at a location on Belle Avenue and Dixie Highway and charged with felony drug trafficking, a fourth-degree felony, after being arrested on other warrants.
As part of the investigation, OIU also issued administrative citations against liquor licenses, reflecting violations of drug sales, drug possession, drug paraphernalia sales, drug paraphernalia possession and receiving stolen property.
The OIU is charged with enforcing the state’s liquor laws and is the only state law enforcement agency specifically tasked with investigating food stamp fraud crimes. Agents also investigate tobacco violations.
Synthetic marijuana is often many more times potent than regular cannabis, according to police. The packaging often times depicts cartoon characters or other pictures or symbols enticing to a younger crowd such as “Scooby Snax,” “Joker,” “Mad Hatter,” “Bomb Marley,” “Iron Man,” “I Blown,” “OMG,” “Mind Trip,” “Mad Monkey” and many others.
Staff Writer Eric Schwartzberg contributed to this report
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