In recent months, the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force (LCDTF) alongside the Lauderdale County District Attorney’s office has been inundated with reports concerning the use, abuse, and overdoses of adolescents linked to purported THC vapes. These alarming calls have come from a variety of sources, including concerned parents of school-aged children, government officials, school resource officers, and other community members. In response to these growing concerns, the LCDTF initiated a thorough investigation into the distribution of THC vapes to minors, collaborating closely with the Florence Police Department and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office.
Throughout the investigation, several controlled purchases of THC vapes were conducted at various gas stations and smoke shops across Lauderdale County. The vapes obtained during these operations were subsequently sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) for analysis. The findings from ADFS confirmed that THC vapes are classified as controlled substances under state law.
On March 7th, law enforcement executed search warrants at three different locations, leading to additional arrests at three other sites where individuals were found selling these products to minors. The establishments involved included Haddock’s One Stop, Buckeye Smoke Shop, Valero, King Vape, Chevron, and Florence Smoke Shop. As a result of the investigation and the execution of the search warrants, eight individuals were taken into custody. During these searches, agents uncovered vapes containing controlled substances, small quantities of Methamphetamine (commonly referred to as ICE), drug paraphernalia, smoking pipes associated with Methamphetamine use, a green leafy substance believed to be Khat, and a significant stash of prescription medications, including Viagra.