Last Friday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office raided a dozen convenience stores. The raid was conducted on stores that have failed to comply with state law banning the sale of synthetic marijuana.

Police seized 1,000 pounds of synthetic marijuana with a street value of more than $500,000. It was packaged as K2-Spice for retail sale and distribution.

Several individuals, who were owners or clerks in the stores were taken into custody. Each was charged with one felony count of possession and sell of a controlled substance-analog and one felony count of maintaining a store to sell a controlled substance.

Taken into custody were: Claire McCarthy, Radiant Food Store, 13430 Bruce B. Downs; Moataz Darwish, Radiant Food Store, 13430 Bruce B. Downs; Saleh M. Elshabrawy, Radiant Food Store, 13430 Bruce B. Downs; Sagar Saha, Joy Food Mart, 10810 U. S. 41 S; Abdul Mannan, Joy Food Mart, 10810 US 41 S; Subal Banik,  Joy Food Mart, 10810 U. S. 41 S.

Others arrested were: Heather Hernandez, Country Food Store, 12020 E. MLK; Minhoz Lalani, Quick Mart, 10051 Sheldon Road; Prollad Roy, Shell Food Mart, 2819 E Hwy 60; Abukhdeir Mohammad, Fats Boy’s, 601 Hwy 41 S, Ruskin; Qureshi, Mohiuddin, Gibsonton Food Mart, 10143 U. S. 41 S; and Kenaan Daaboul,  Lithia Pinecrest Citco, 4330 Lithia Pine Crest;

Police also arrested: Christina Stokes, Lithia Pinecrest Citco, 4330 Lithia Pine Crest; Al-Shalabi Jamalutfi, Snax Food, 6504 N. Himes; and Philip Thomas, Nebraska Citgo, 11710 N. Nebraska Ave.

A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is continuing.