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NEWARK
– The New Jersey Division of Consumer
Affairs in recent weeks has amplified its
efforts to remove illegal, dangerous designer
drugs such as “K2,” “Spice,"
and so-called “bath salts” from
the shelves of retail establishments that
sell them to users in violation of state
and federal laws.
Police
in Seaside Heights and Stafford Township
last week arrested three individuals accused
of selling the illegal substances at novelty
and convenience stores. The arrests followed
cooperative investigations conducted by
the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs’
Enforcement Bureau in partnership with the
police agencies.
On
Friday, August 12, Seaside Heights Police
arrested Sohail Padela, 44, at Fine Jewelry,
a novelty shop he owns at 216 Boardwalk,
Seaside Heights. The arrest followed a month-long
investigation, in which a clerk at Padela’s
store allegedly sold designer drug packets
to undercover investigators. One of the
packets, with the brand name “Golden
Eye Spice,” tested positive for JWH-018
and JWH-073. The two chemicals are “synthetic
cannabinoids,” chemical derivatives
of marijuana commonly sold as “K2”
or “Spice.” The chemicals were
banned earlier this year under state and
federal laws.
Upon
arresting Padela, Seaside Heights officers
seized 150 packets of “Golden Eye
Spice” and other suspected designer
drugs with labels such as “Black King,”
“Cloud 9,” “Ecstasy Salvia,”
and “Spike Diamond,” from Padela’s
vehicle, with an estimated total value of
$3,750. Padela, of Houston, Texas, was charged
with the third-degree crimes of possession
and distribution of a Schedule I Controlled
Dangerous Substance, and the second-degree
crime of distribution within a recreational
zone. He was released on $8,000 bail.
Separately,
on Thursday, August 11, Stafford Township
Police arrested Ritesh Kumar Patel, a clerk
at The News Stand on 25 South Main Street,
and Atul Garg, a clerk at the Exxon gas
station at 555 Route 72, after each defendant
allegedly sold illegal designer drugs to
undercover investigators during a three-month
investigation. Patel and Garg each allegedly
sold packages that tested positive for JWH-018.
Stafford Township officers seized a total
of more than 655 packets of suspected designer
drugs, including so-called “bath salts”
and synthetic cannabinoids with an estimated
total value of more than $16,000, from both
stores. Patel, 20, of Barnegat, and Garg,
27, of Edison, were each charged with third-degree
distribution of a Schedule I Controlled
Dangerous Substance, and released pending
future appearances in Superior Court.
Usage
of "bath salts" designer drugs
and synthetic cannabinoids is known to cause
intense hallucinations, anxiety, paranoid
behavior, seizures, tremors, racing heartbeats,
elevated blood pressure, among other disturbing
symptoms. Reports from authorities and emergency
rooms across New Jersey and nationwide chronicle
the frightening experiences with patients
high on these drugs, some of whom became
completely detached from reality, engaged
in acts of self-mutilation and suicide,
and turned so violent that they needed to
be strapped down in four-point restraints,
intubated, and forcefully sedated.
“In
April, our Division of Consumer Affairs
banned designer drugs labeled as ‘bath
salts’ because of their alarming physiological
effects and the chilling acts of violence
associated with their use," Attorney
General Paula T. Dow said. “The message
was sent loud and clear - the manufacture,
sale, and possession of these dangerous
drugs are illegal in New Jersey, and we
intend to pursue violators to the full extent
of the law."
Also
in April, the Division adopted a recent
federal ban, issued by the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, against four synthetic cannabinoids
including JWH-018 and JWH-073. Like the
"bath salts" designer drugs, the
four synthetic cannabinoids are now Schedule
I Controlled Dangerous Substances under
New Jersey's CDS Act, subjecting them to
the same level of control as cocaine or
heroin.
"While
reported incidents of 'bath salts' use have
declined substantially in New Jersey since
our April 27, 2011 criminal ban and launch
of our statewide consumer awareness campaign,
our undercover investigators are still finding
a disturbing number of disreputable retailers
carrying the 'K2' and other designer drugs,
particularly in our shore communities,"
said Thomas R. Calcagni, Director of the
Division of Consumer Affairs. "Head
shops and novelty stores, take notice: all
of these dangerous drugs - and any substance
sold for the intoxicating effect of its
fumes - are illegal in the Garden State.
Get them off your shelves, or face criminal
prosecution."
In
addition to last week's arrests, Division
of Consumer Affairs Enforcement Bureau investigators
on August 12 worked with the police departments
of Seaside Heights and Seaside Park in visiting
a total of 11 novelty shops along the boardwalk
that were suspected of selling illegal designer
drugs. Rather than face criminal charges,
the shopkeepers voluntarily surrendered
a total of 733 packets of suspected designer
drugs, with an estimated total value of
$18,325.
The
Seaside enforcement effort is part of the
Division of Consumer Affairs' "Safe
Summer 2011," a summer-long initiative
in which the Division partners with county
offices of consumer affairs, county health
departments, and county and municipal law
enforcement agencies in ensuring consumer
safety and compliance with consumer protection
laws along the Jersey Shore. Consumer Affairs
investigators visited the boardwalks of
Point Pleasant and Wildwood earlier in the
summer.
"Since
its launch in late June, 'Safe Summer 2011'
has resulted in the surrender of roughly
$75,000 worth of designer drugs from over
30 shopkeepers - preventing nearly 3,000
packets of these dangerous drugs from ever
reaching the streets," said Calcagni.
Ensuring
the safety of boardwalk visitors, Division
investigators have been on the lookout for
more than illegal designer drugs. As part
of the summer initiative, investigators
from the Division's Legalized Games of Chance
Control Commission inspect amusement games
to make certain they provide every player
with a fair chance of winning. Investigators
from the Division’s Office of Consumer
Protection ensure retailers comply with
the state's Consumer Fraud Act, look for
the sale of dangerous contraband items such
as novelty lighters or novelty contact lenses,
and use high-tech lead testing equipment
to check the lead content of toys and other
items. Inspectors from the Division’s
Office of Weights and Measures test the
accuracy of scales and other measuring devices.
County investigators participate in the
inspections, including those from the county
offices of health who seek compliance with
the local health code.
To
date, investigators have uncovered the following
violations:
On
August 12, 2011, at the Seaside Boardwalk,
investigators seized a total of 1,535 novelty
contact lenses, with a total estimated value
of $38,000. Because decorative contact lenses
have been associated with eye injury and
infection, state and federal law prohibit
their sale without a prescription from an
eye doctor. Investigators also seized approximately
200 dangerous, contraband novelty lighters.
Investigators also discovered 11 violations
at eight amusement games, including basketball
games in which the balls were hyper-inflated
to more than three times the allowable limit,
exponentially increasing their tendency
to ricochet and substantially decreasing
a player's chance of winning a prize. Investigators
also found plastic toy rings with a lead
content of 572 and 1,031 parts per million,
respectively - both dangerously exceeding
the new federal limit, effective August
14, of 100 parts per million. (The previous
lead limit was 300 parts per million).
On
July 12, at the Wildwood Boardwalk, investigators
confiscated 89 dangerous, contraband novelty
lighters. Investigators also noted that
four stores had a total of 761 pricing violations
(including 750 at one store) due to the
failure to clearly display prices, and five
stores had refund policy violations. Investigators
further found violations at six amusement
games, including a coin toss game in which
glass plates had been secretly coated with
furniture polish, making the surfaces unfairly
slick. Investigators also discovered a toy
ball with a lead content of 574 parts per
million.
On
June 30, at the Point Pleasant Boardwalk,
investigators confiscated 8 dangerous, contraband
novelty lighters and noted that one store
failed to post prices on merchandise. Investigators
also discovered a number of toys with dangerously
high lead content, including a plastic toy
spring with a lead content of 715 parts
per million, a small black novelty fly with
a lead content of 1,982 parts per million,
and a key chain with a lead content of 3,877
parts per million.
"While
the large majority of vendors along the
boardwalks operate honestly, our investigators
uncovered a number of concerning safety
and consumer law violations that we moved
quickly to resolve," said Calcagni.
"The summer is not over yet, and there's
still work for us to do."
The
Division brings “Safe Summer 2011”
to the Atlantic City Boardwalk on August
30.
Consumers
who believe they have been cheated or scammed
by a business, or suspect any other form
of consumer abuse, can file a complaint
with the State Division of Consumer Affairs
by visiting its website, www.NJConsumerAffairs.com,
or by calling 1-800-242-5846
(toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
Follow
the Division of Consumer Affairs on Facebook,
at www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Division-of-Consumer-Affairs/112957465445651
; and check our online calendar of upcoming
Consumer Outreach events, at www.nj.gov/oag/ca/outreach/.
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