Louisiana vape crackdown leads to multiple arrests, seizure of more than $1 million in illegal products

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) announced a month-long investigation involving multiple agencies ended with the arrest of 10 people and seizure of over $1 million of illegal vape pods, juices, pens and other products.

Operation Vape Out had an objective to confiscate illegal vape products sold by businesses and arrest suspects. LDR listed some of the illegal and unauthorized products that were seized during the investigation.

• 1,800 schedule I narcotics, including psilocybin, tianeptine and marijuana.
• 16,000 CBD liquids, pre-rolled cigarettes and gummies
• 34,000 juices, pods and pens
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• 1,500 tainted sexual enhancement products
• 6,500 nitrous oxide containers

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control issued over 140 citations and suspended the permits for six businesses in Louisiana, including one in Baton Rouge.

• Smokin Aces Smoke Shop (14455 Wax Road, Baton Rouge)
• Candle Hookah Smoke Shop (2865 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Lafayette)
• Old Smokey (3302 Johnston Street, Lafayette)
• Vapes ‘R’ Us (334 N. Market Street, Shreveport)
• 318 Cloudz (307 E. Texas, Shreveport)
• 318 Cloudz (2501 Beene Blvd., Shreveport)

The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal issued over 150 citations for safety and fire code violations.

The suspects in this case were arrested on different charges, including felony possession of nitrous oxide, immigration violations, unlawful possession of hallucinogenic plants and possession of schedule I narcotics.

The Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana State Probation and Parole, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Homeland Security Investigations worked with the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control on this case.

If you know about the sale of illegal vape products in the state, you can submit a complaint here.

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