PHILIPSBURG – State police seized synthetic marijuana and bath salts after raiding three stores in State College Borough and two others located in Schuylkill County, the Philipsburg-based state police reported on Friday afternoon.
Throughout January and February, troopers of the Troop G Vice and Narcotic Unit in Holidaysburg conducted undercover purchases of synthetic marijuana and bath salts from Dragon Chasers Emporium, Jamaica Junction and Grasshoppers Gift Shop in State College Borough. During this timeframe, surveillance was conducted and troopers observed numerous individuals purchasing these items from the associated stores.
During the same timeframe, troopers of the Troop L Vice and Narcotic Unit in Reading conducted undercover purchases of synthetic marijuana and bath salts from Dragon Chasers Emporium and Nirvana’s Closet in Schuylkill County. Troopers also conducted surveillance at these locations, observing numerous individuals purchasing these items from the associated stores, according to the report.
State police said that evidence collected was identified by the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Laboratory as being Schedule 1 controlled substances. On Feb. 22, troopers applied for and received search warrants for the associated stores in Centre and Schuylkill counties. At approximately 4 p.m. Feb. 22, five search warrants were executed at the associated stores.
At the three stores located in State College Borough, troopers seized 5,315 items suspected to be synthetic marijuana containing a Schedule 1 controlled substance. They seized 938 items suspected to be synthetic bath salts containing a Schedule 1 controlled substance as well as $13,423 in U.S. currency, thousands of items of drug paraphernalia, documents associated with the sale of the aforementioned items and computers.
In addition, troopers seized thousands of synthetic marijuana and bath salts at the locations in Schuylkill County, U.S. currency, drug paraphernalia, documents associated with the sale of the aforementioned items and computers, according to the police report.
On Feb. 23, troopers executed search warrants at various banks in Centre and Schuylkill counties. These search warrants were to obtain bank records and to seize U.S. currency from the sale of the controlled substances.
Interviews conducted suggested that these businesses were profiting from the sale of these items. Evidence has been obtained that indicates a large amount of profits are obtained through the sale of the synthetic items. During the searches, more than 100 individuals attempted to enter two of the State College stores. Many asked to purchase items related to these searches. Reading-based troopers reported similar activity at their locations.
Vice Units along with Asset Forfeiture Units from the Pennsylvania State Police will be continuing this investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Philipsburg-based state police at 814-342-3370.
The Pennsylvania State Police Troop G Vice Unit, Holidaysburg, was assisted by the criminal investigation and patrol units from both the Philipsburg- and Rockview-based state police barracks, the Pennsylvania State Police Forfeiture Unit, the Pennsylvania State Police Troop L, Reading Vice Unit, the State College and Patton Township police departments, the Centre County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Attorney General.
