Updated 07/25/2012 04:51 PM
State Police conduct drug raids at head shops across state
It was a busy day for state and local authorities. Police agencies across the region took part in a nationwide crackdown on the synthetic drug known as bath salts. More than a dozen raids took place in Central New York, including one at the 420 Emporium on North Salina Street in Syracuse. Our Iris St. Meran was there when it all unfolded.
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Law enforcement officials from a number of agencies joined in on the raids, all part of an effort to get rid of synthetic drugs.
There was a heavy police presence around the 420 Emporium on North Salina Street for about an hour and a half Wednesday. Many people passing by wondered what was happening.
"Once that I saw that it was a smoke shop, kind of put the pieces of the puzzle together and realized what was going on," one person said.
What was going on here was part of a nationwide crackdown on bath salts. City and State Police worked with federal authorities, including the DEA to raid head shops. More than a dozen happened in the Syracuse area, with more in the Mohawk Valley, the North Country and the Southern Tier.
Ten of the raids were at Tebbs locations.
There are a number of businesses in and around this head shop on North Salina Street. We talked to some business owners who say on any given day, there's a steady stream of people going in and out of here. They didn't want to go on camera, but they're glad the police finally stepped in.
Robert Mazzei was in the area of the raid on North Salina Street working with a local antiques shop. He feels the same way as many of t he store owners.
Mazzei said, "It's a little sketchy. You never know who's on what. You see people looking at you a certain way and you don't know is this person on bath salts. Is he going to try and jump me. I'll be happy when it's out of stores and the kids are safe again."
The federal authorities are in charge of Wednesday’s nationwide raids. They're expected to release more information and will have an official press conference Thursday with all the details of the raids that have taken place.
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