St. Bernard Sheriffs Deputies made nine arrests following a months-long undercover investigation at convenience stores allegedly selling drug paraphernalia like bongs and crack pipes.
Chief Deputy Jimmy Pohlman told WWL First News these items are normally sold legally as novelty items, but are not legal when the customer "crosses the line."
He says it's all in what a customer asks for and how the cashier responds.
''When someone goes in a specifically asks for a crack pipe or a marijuana pipe and they sell the items as such we feel we had a good basis to get warrants for these individuals,'' Pohlman said.
Listen to WWL's David Blake's interview with Pohlman about the arrests:
Pohlman says they used an informant to make the busts.
"We wired him up with audio and video and sent him into the stores to purchase crack pipes and devices to smoke marijuana, which is what he asked for," Pohlman said.
Officials say the informant specifically asked for "crack pipes" or at one store for "a bong to smoke my weed."
According to investigators, Lexington Discount in Meraux openly displayed glass pipes commonly used for smoking marijuana or tobacco in a glass case and had large "bongs" displayed on a wall.
Police say that in the stores where glass pipes commonly used for smoking crack cocaine were bought, the pipes were hidden under the counter and the employee usually sold them in combination with a piece of Chore, or copper scrapping, used as a screen for smoking the crack.
Officials said the arrests fit the law involving sale of drug paraphernalia because all the workers arrested were aware the items they were selling were going to be used for using drugs.
The charges are misdemeanors with a thousand dollars bond.
Pohlman says the message is clear not only to the clerks but the store owners: A zero-tolerance policy for selling drug paraphernalia in the parish.
The nine suspects, the charges against them and the stores where they were arrested:
- Bazaar Zahran, 35, Gretna, two counts distribution of drug paraphernalia; arrested at Magnolia Discount, 7600 West Judge Perez Drive, Arabi.
- Raed Thabata, 32, Terrytown, two counts distribution of drug paraphernalia and one count possession with intent to distribute; arrested at Chalmette Discount, 1800 E. Judge Perez Drive, Suite B, Chalmette.
- Rashed Thabata, 28, Terrytown, one count possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia; arrested at Chalmette Discount, 1800 E. Judge Perez Drive, Suite B, Chalmette.
- Amer Ahmad, 27, 5030 Morrison Road, New Orleans, one count distribution of drug paraphernalia and one count possession with intent to distribute; arrested at Amin's Quick Stop, 1901 E. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette.
- Ehab Ayyad, 36, 11950 Hayne Blvd., New Orleans, possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia; arrested at Amin's Quick Stop, 1901 E. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette.
- Kary Aziz, 45, 2309 Esteban St., Arabi, one count of distribution of drug paraphernalia and one count possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute; arrested at Lexington Discount, 4213 E. Judge Perez Drive, Meraux.
- Hisham Deeb, 45, 2817 Corinne Drive, Chalmette, one count distribution of drug paraphernalia and one count possession with intent to distribute; arrested at Quick Check Oak Ridge, 5815 E. Judge Perez Drive, Violet.
- Shadi Mubarak, 31, Metairie, one count distribution of drug paraphernalia and one count possession with intent; arrested at Supreme Food Mart, 7601 E. St. Bernard Hwy., Violet.
- Hikmet Mustafa Abdelgad Rabee, 45, Abita Springs, one count distribution of drug paraphernalia and one count possession with intent to distribute; arrested at Quick Check Torres, 617 Bayou Road, in the St. Bernard community.
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