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NEWARK
– The New Jersey Division of Consumer
Affairs last week made an unannounced return
visit to the 11 novelty shops that had been
selling suspected dangerous, illegal designer
drugs in violation of state and federal
laws – and found one shopkeeper continuing
to sell the suspected chemicals, despite
the stern warning he received in August.
The
undercover investigation, conducted in partnership
with Seaside Park and Seaside Heights police,
is part of the Division of Consumer Affairs’
continuing effort to remove designer drugs
such as “K2,” “Spice,”
and so-called “bath salts” from
retail establishments that sell them illegally.
The
investigation led to the arrest of a shopkeeper
who, just three weeks earlier, had voluntarily
surrendered his stash of suspected designer
drugs in order to avoid criminal charges.
On
Friday, September 2, shop owner Alaa Yousef
Hussein allegedly sold four packets of suspected
designer drugs labeled as “Down2Earth
Climaxxx” and “Spark 4D Happy
Caps” on two separate occasions during
the same day, to undercover investigators
who re-visited Music Sound, his shop at
1901 North Ocean Avenue, Seaside Park. On
both occasions Friday, Hussein allegedly
told the investigators the contents would
give them a marijuana-like high. Seaside
Park Police arrested Hussein at approximately
4:48 pm.
Upon
making the arrest, Seaside Park Police seized
48 packets of suspected designer drugs,
with an estimated value of $1,200. Hussein,
39, of Edison, is charged with distribution
of an imitation Controlled Dangerous Substance,
a third-degree crime carrying a maximum
penalty of five years in prison and a fine
of up to $15,000, and sale of a toxic chemical,
a fourth-degree crime carrying a maximum
penalty of 18 months in prison and a fine
of up to $10,000. Hussein was held in the
Ocean County Jail on $15,000 bail with no
10 percent option, and was released on Saturday,
September 3.
“Certain
disreputable retailers obviously have no
qualms about selling chemicals that are
illegal, toxic, and associated with disturbing
acts of violence and alarming physical side
effects. They would rather listen to drug
distributors who tell them this garbage
can be sold legally, than the law enforcement
officials who explain otherwise,”
Thomas R. Calcagni, Director of the Division
of Consumer Affairs, said. “Undercover
officers will return to these shops, as
necessary, to ensure the message gets through.
Designer drugs, from ‘K2’ and
‘bath salts’ to any substance
sold for the intoxicating effect of its
fumes, are illegal in New Jersey. If you
are a shop owner and want to avoid criminal
prosecution, get these drugs off your shelves.”
The
investigation was conducted as a follow-up
to Consumer Affairs’ August 12 visit
to the Boardwalk in partnership with Seaside
Heights and Seaside Park police. On that
date, Hussein was one of 10 shopkeepers
who voluntarily surrendered a total of 733
packets of suspected designer drugs, with
an estimated value of $18,325, rather than
face criminal charges.
Also
on August 12, Seaside Heights Police arrested
the owner of a novelty shop at 216 Boardwalk.
During a preceding investigation, that shopkeeper
allegedly sold designer drug packets that
tested positive for JWH-018 and JWH-073,
two "synthetic cannabinoids,"
chemical derivatives of marijuana, that
were banned earlier this year under state
and federal laws. Seaside Heights Police
confiscated 150 packets of suspected designer
drugs, valued at $3,750, from that shop.
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.
The
class of designer drugs commonly labeled
as “bath salts” have been illegal
in New Jersey since April 27, under an order
of the Division of Consumer Affairs that
classifies them as Schedule I Controlled
Dangerous Substances, subject to the same
level of control as cocaine or heroin.
Earlier
in April, the Division adopted a federal
ban against another set of designer drugs
– a set of synthetic cannabinoids,
including JWH-018 and JWH-073, which are
also now classified as Schedule I CDS.
Since
the launch of its crackdown on designer
drugs, the Division of Consumer Affairs
has partnered with law enforcement agencies
on the seizure or voluntary surrender of
a total of more than 2,900 packets of suspected
designer drugs, with an estimated total
value of approximately $75,000, and the
arrests of six individuals who allegedly
sold the chemicals.
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.
Check our online calendar of upcoming Consumer
Outreach events, at www.nj.gov/oag/ca/outreach/.
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