MIAMI VALLEY — Investigators raided four smoke and vape shops in our area and as many as 20 stores faced search warrants after investigators told us they think some were selling illegal and dangerous products.
News Center 7′s Mike Campbell obtained copies of search warrants served on April 10 for three VIP Smoke Shops in Moraine, Oakwood and Washington Twp. and the Springboro Vape & Smoke Shop that were recently raided by the Tactical Crime Suppression Unit (TCSU).
TCSU leaders told News Center 7 that they’re looking to protect the health of people walking into the shops.
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TCSU Public Information Officer John Davis said they’ve received “multiple complaints of juveniles and adults becoming ill” and even having to be hospitalized. TCSU started gathering information after getting those reports.
Undercover task force members observed products they don’t believe are legal in Ohio being sold and claimed they had troubling conversations with some stores’ employees.
“[One] actually boasted, he told him he should try this product. One of my co-workers tried it last week and we took him to the hospital because he overdosed,” Davis said.
Agents said they believe some of the products have far too high of levels of THC in them. During the raids, they confiscated products they believed were illegal. They also said, because of some of their undercover agents’ conversations, they don’t believe the stores can claim ignorance.
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“They understand what they are sell and know they shouldn’t be,” Davis said.
Campbell went to several stores Friday in an attempt to speak with owners or managers, but did not get a reply from the VIP Smoke Shops. News Center 7 also reached out to a lawyer representing the owner of the Springboro Vape & Smoke Shop. They thanked us for reaching out, but declined to comment.
News Center 7 reported last week that two Mad River Middle School students had to go to the hospital because they used vape pens and became violently ill.
“You just don’t know what you’re buying, you are going with the assumption it is as advertised,” Davis said.
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