Following an investigation spanning several months, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of seven individuals allegedly responsible for selling vapes containing illegal levels of tetrahydrocannabinol to children in the area. The substance, the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana, produces the high associated with the drug.
Authorities with the sheriff’s office have said they have heard from many concerned callers over the last few months, revealing that the children are not only using the vapes but, in some cases, are also overdosing. The distress in the community prompted a collaborative effort between the sheriff, the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force, the Florence Police Department, and the District Attorney to investigate the issue.
According to the sheriff’s office, controlled purchases were conducted at a group of gas stations and vape shops in Lauderdale County. Vapes bought were then sent for testing at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, where it was discovered that several contained controlled substances, including methamphetamine.
The individuals arrested after law enforcement executed search/ arrest warrants in various locations on Friday include:
- Akram Yahya Ghazali, 27, of Florence. Charged with Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Sell/distribute a Psychoactive Cannabinoids to Minors
- Brooke Natasha Kelley 43, of Florence. Charged with Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Sell/distribute Psychoactive Cannabinoids to Minors
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Omer Ahmed Saleh Aljalal. Charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance
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FNU Sunil, 26, of Florence. Charged with Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Sell/distribute Psychoactive Cannabinoids to Minors
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Abdulsalam Qais Mohammed Qasem, 39, of Florence. Charged with Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance. Sell/distribute Psychoactive Cannabinoids to Minors
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Autumn Rayne Meyers, 22, of Florence. Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Sell/distribute Psychoactive Cannabinoids to Minors
The locations raided by authorities were:
- Haddock’s One Stop, 11500 Hwy 20, Central
- Buckeye Smoke Shop, 4213 Huntsville Road, Florence
- Valero, 3506 Cloverdale Road, Florence
- King Vape, 2801 Mall Road, Florence
- Chevron, 4408 Hwy 157 Underwood-Petersville
- Florence Smoke Shop, 2520 Mall Road, Florence
In addition to the vapes, investigators found drug paraphernalia, pipes used for smoking methamphetamine, a green leafy substance believed to be a controlled substance (Khat), and a significant amount of pills that require a prescription (Viagra
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
