Sheriff busts shop for synthetic-drug sales

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Updated: March 23, 2012 8:17AM

DIAMOND — A tobacco shop was busted for reportedly stocking almost $6,000 worth of synthetic drugs last week.

Grundy County Sheriff’s deputies conducted an undercover bust Friday morning at Diamond Tobacco, 2435 E. Division St. as part of Operation Smoked Out. Run by the attorney general’s office, the operation has already resulted in several substance seizures downstate.

Until Jan. 1, synthetic drugs were legally sold at many tobacco shops despite containing toxic chemicals.

Police allegedly seized 348 packages of “bath salts” and synthetic marijuana worth $5,945 from Diamond Tobacco.

Bath salts are another type of synthetic drug that produces effects similar to those of cocaine or methamphetamine, the attorney general’s office said.

“We will continue ... to conduct frequent checks to make sure local retailers are in compliance,” Sheriff Terry Marketti said. “Synthetics are as dangerous as any other controlled substance.”

Marketti said officers taking part in the sting first purchased synthetic drugs at the business about a month ago and again Friday morning before seizing the products.

“It wasn’t on display. You had to ask for it, but they had it and sold it,” Marketti said.

No employees were arrested during the bust.

State’s Attorney John Bates said every package of synthetic drugs kept from the public is “a step in the right direction.”