Seaside Heights Boardwalk Business Busted for Selling Designer drugs
Stafford Township police also made arrests
A Seaside Heights boardwalk business was busted last week for selling what state officials are calling 'designer drugs.'
Seaside Heights Police arrested Sohail Padela, 44, at Fine Jewelry, a novelty shop he owns at 216 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights, on Aug. 12, according to the state Department of Consumer Affairs.
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 what is known as synthetic marijuana, or "K2." The chemicals were banned earlier this year under state and federal laws.
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, the state DCA said.
Padela, of Houston, Tx., 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.
In a separate incident, 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 allegedly sold illegal designer drugs to undercover investigators during a three-month investigation, the DCA said.
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.
John Walton
10:33 am on Thursday, August 18, 2011
I can't believe these officers were allowed to milk this for so long. This was a very easy case, the items were being prominently sold and were leftover stock from before NJ made them illegal to possess. Though you wouldn't want your kids trying this stuff (it's garbage) it's outrageous that the police wasted so much taxpayer money on hundreds of man hours of "investigation" etc.. This could have been taken care of in a half hour by one invetigator and one police officer to make the arrest. Both cases could have been wrapped up in a day.. A disgusting waste of taxpayers money, when towns are cutting jobs, people losing thier jobs, homes and savings.. These officers who are already well payed decide , " we can drag this out for months".. Tens of thousands of dollars in overtime and special pay for something that ,sorry to repeat myself, could have been wrapped up in a day.
Helen
12:57 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011
Recent story in the news about a 13 year old that smoked the synthetic Marijuana - now needs a lung transplant. I'd like to know the background of these people. Are they in this country legally? How do they get the money to open these businesses? Are they just fronts for their illegal drug trade? They seem to be buying up businesses in Seaside, LBI etc. Their bail was pretty low - most likely they'll skip town and set up shop somewhere else. This is my opinion so the stalker on this site that seems to put his sarcastic 2 cents in on every comment he disagrees with - please refrain. Could careless what you think - I'm sure you know who you are.
UFeedMe
3:17 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
"Buying up businesses? Are they in this country legally? ... skip town and set up somewhere else" Wow you are a gem. You obviously know sh*t about absolutely nothing. These guys are convenience store clerks who were selling something that only exists because of our country's insanely flawed drug policy.
UFeedMe
3:17 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Oh wait, I forgot ... you're from Berkeley. That explains it.