OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says the state has conducted the largest seizure of illegal vapes in West Florida and Panhandle history.
A statewide Vape Task Force conducted operations in Clermont, Ocoee, Milton, Gulf Breeze and in Okaloosa County. A part of that task force is the Enforcement Unit of the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and local law enforcement.
“The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be a part of this team effort,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden. “It involved effective and worthwhile partnerships designed to protect our communities and keep our young people safe. These products are not harmless and when they’re sold illegally or marketed towards minors, getting them off the streets is a mission worthy of this combined effort.”
They collected more than 2,000 contraband vapes, nitrous oxide canisters, and other related drug paraphernalia.
“The seizures included 263 illegal vapes in Clermont, 636 in Ocoee, 855 in Okaloosa County, and 423 in Milton,” according to a press release.
Milton Police Chief Jennifer Frank highlighted the crackdown effort back in January. They collected more than 500 illegal vapes and arrested several vape shop employees.
The names of the businesses and individuals arrested were not released.
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office says they arrested the store owner of “Unique Vape and Cigar.” Golam Farooque is charged with eight felony counts of the illegal sale of nitrous oxide.
Deputies say they found illegal vapes, 195 nitrous oxide canisters and 50 nitrous oxide chargers — also known as “crackers.” These are used along with balloons so users can get high.
“These businesses are knowingly selling illegal products that are designed to attract children and evade Florida law,” said Uthmeier. “This record-breaking seizure sends a clear message: if you profit off addiction, deception, and dangerous substances, we will find you and shut you down.”
Thousands of illegal products were also removed from store shelves during regulatory inspections.
“In Clermont, FDACS removed 2,054 packages of product from six stores, while in Ocoee, the department removed 6,181 packages of product from eight stores,” said the release. “FDACS is currently finalizing product removal totals from enforcement actions in Okaloosa County, Milton, and Gulf Breeze.”
“Products were removed from sale for numerous violations of Florida law, including failure to meet container and labeling requirements, lack of child-resistant packaging, unlawful advertising and marketing practices, and packaging, business names, logos, colors, or additives designed to appeal to children,” the release said. “Additional violations included references to illegal or unlawful substances, promotion of marijuana use, and the presence of controlled or prohibited substances such as 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), tianeptine, and hemp extract containing more than 0.3 percent total delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol on a wet-weight basis.”