Federal Officials Cash In On Synthetic Drug Busts

With Synthetic drugs on the rise the nation’s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has become more vigilant.

Just recently President Obama signed a law to ban chemical compounds sold on the street as bath salts—chemical substances that produce feelings of euphoria in users. Among these chemical substances is the popular synthetic marijuana, “K2” also known as “Spice.” As they become more popular on the street, especially among our youth, these chemical compounds have now become available online and in stores across America.

Synthetic drugs are dangerous and they often kill those who use them. According to the DEA, synthetic drug cases have more than quadrupled between 2010 and 2011. In 2010, poison centers nationwide responded to about 3,200 calls related to synthetic “Spice” and “bath salts.” In 2011, that number jumped to more than 13,000 calls. Sixty percent of the cases involved patients 25 and younger.

Today, Federal officials announced the success of their first ever national operation against synthetic drugs. As part of Operation Log Jam, and a joint effort by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and several other agencies, law enforcement officials made 90 arrests.

The DEA believes that by targeting retailers and manufacturers of these synthetics, this major effort to address the problem of synthetic drugs on the streets of America has upset the entire synthetic drug industry.

Michele M. Leonhart, the head of the DEA said, “We are committed to targeting these new and emerging drugs with every scientific, legislative, and investigative tool at our disposal.”

Today’s action netted more than 4.8 million packets of synthetic cannabinoids (marijuana) more popularly known as K2 or Spice, and the products to produce nearly 13.6 million more, as well as 167,000 packets of synthetic cathinones (bath salts), and the products to produce an additional 392,000 were seized.

James Chaparro, an investigations official at ICE said, “The criminal organizations behind the importation, distribution, and selling of these synthetic drugs have scant regard for human life in their reckless pursuit of illicit profits.”

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said, “It’s a testament to the cynicism and greed of manufacturers, importers, and distributors that these products were ever put on store shelves… If they have any conscience, they’ll find legitimate ways to make money instead of preying on 18-year-olds.”

The DEA has used its authority to combat synthetic drugs which include bath salts (Ivory Wave, etc.) and synthetic marijuana (K2, Spice, etc.), by temporarily placing several of the dangerous chemicals into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Congress has also acted by permanently placing 26 substances into Schedule I of the CSA.