COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township Police Department raided the Mount Royal Mini-Mart in Ranshaw late Thursday afternoon for suspicion of synthetic drugs, but no charges will be filed until all the seized items have been tested to determine if they are or contain illegal substances.
"There will be no charges filed tonight (Thursday). We gathered the evidence to have it analyzed, and then we go from there," Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan said outside the Sunoco gas station and mini mart along Route 901.
Brennan arrived in an unmarked police car at approximately 5:10 p.m. and entered the store. Less than two minutes later, four township police vehicles came off the exit from Route 61, and the officers parked and entered the store behind him.
A search warrant was filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III of Shamokin by township Patrolman
Joshua Wynn on Nov. 10 in cooperation with township police and Northumberland County/Montour Drug Task Force.
The search warrant listed Jaswinder Fatra, president, and Slimane Belabbas on the line reserved for "owner, occupant or possessor of said premises to be searched."
Several purchases
According to the search warrant, a confidential informant was able to purchase a package of Fusion Herbal Potpourri, believed to be synthetic marijuana, on Sept. 17. The confidential informant was also able to buy a small orange container of Joy, believed to be a synthetic drug known as bath salts, on Oct. 5. The person was able to purchase additional substances on several more occasions in October.
On Nov. 9, an undercover officer was able to purchase a container of Joy from Slimane Belabbas for $40. The officer also discussed synthetic marijuana, and Belabbas allegedly showed him several packets at a cost of $30.
"This has been an ongoing investigation, and this is one of the final steps tonight," Brennan said.
During the raid, the officers took an employee to the back of a police cruiser five minutes after arriving. He was not handcuffed, and police took him back inside five minutes later.
There were six officers including Brennan and Chief Charles Carpenter. They began searching through the store and back room, looking on every shelf and container. They were bagging items and cataloging them. At one point, one of the officers held up two bongs and handed them to another officer.
"We do a thorough search. We look through the entire inside area of the premises," Brennan said.
At approximately 5:50 p.m., a man approached the store and identified himself to Brennan as the owner. He was taken inside and frisked. The officers provided him with paperwork and started talking to him. Ten minutes later, a woman walked into the store as well.
The employees and owner, who Brennan would not identify, were "very cooperative," he said.
Once the test results are processed, they will be presented to District Attorney Tony Rosini, at which time the next step will be decided, Brennan said.
State law
The Coal Township Board of Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance in April banning synthetic drugs within the township. The ordinance bans the sale, possession or deliver of designer drugs such as synthetic marijuana - often called "K2" or "Spice" - and bath salts.
In June, Gov. Tom Corbett signed a state law that bans the sale of "bath salts" and other synthetic drugs, setting criminal penalties for their use.
Those found guilty of possession of these substances with intent to deliver face five years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Simple possession carries a maximum one year term in prison and a $5,000 fine.