The Moore County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of four individuals following a multi-agency investigation into illegal activity at vape stores across the county.
According to Sheriff Ronnie Fields, the investigation began Jan. 30 and involved multiple agencies, including the Robbins, Southern Pines, Aberdeen and Pinebluff police departments, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI).
Search warrants were executed at seven vape store locations in response to public complaints about alleged sales to minors, overdoses involving minors, and the sale of products containing illegal levels of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
“These concentrated substances are not only illegal, but are far more potent than marijuana and pose an alarming risk to public health, particularly when accessed by minors,” said Sheriff Ronnie Fields in a press release. “To put this in perspective, some of the seized products contained over 90% THC—more than 30,000% above the legal threshold.”
The following locations were searched as part of the investigation:
* R&R 2 Tobacco & Vape, 151 NC Highway 705, Robbins, NC
* Circle H 2, 401 Monroe Street, Carthage, NC
* Up In Smoke Vape Shop, 805 Monroe Street, Carthage, NC
* The Island Smoke Shop & Lounge #1, 280 Turner Street, Southern Pines, NC
* The Island Smoke Shop & Lounge #2, 1701 North Sandhills Blvd, Aberdeen, NC
* The Island Smoke Shop & Lounge #3, 735 South Bennett Street, Southern Pines, NC
* Tobacco CBD & Vape, 140 North Walnut Street, Pinebluff, NC
As a result of the operation, the following individuals were arrested:
Mousa Ali A. Shahbain, 35, of Raeford, was charged with three counts each of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance, and felony possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance. His bond was set at $65,000 secured. His court date is April 23.
Fares Mosleh Saleh, 36, of Carthage, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance, felony possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, and defrauding a drug/alcohol test (synthetic urine). His bond was set at $25,000 secured. His court date is April 24.
Rassam Saleh Rashani, 42, of Whispering Pines, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance, and felony possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance. He was released on a written promise to appear in court May 14.
Ahmed Mahmood Musaed Amer, 41, of Fayetteville, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance and felony possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance. He was released on a written promise to appear in court April 24.
Per the press release, Sheriff Ronnie Fields “emphasized that protecting youth and public safety remains a top priority for his office and its law enforcement partners.”
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Photos courtesy Moore County Sheriff’s Office.
