BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A Baton Rouge shop is among six businesses shut down during a multi-agency state and federal crackdown on authorized vape products in Louisiana.
The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) announced on Monday, June 16, that it had suspended permits for Smokin Aces Smoke Shop on Wax Road in Baton Rouge; the Candle Hookah Smoke Shop and Old Smokey, both in Lafayette; Vapes ‘R’ Us in Shreveport; and two Shreveport locations of 318 Cloudz.
According to the ATC, 10 people were arrested and more than $1 million worth of illegal vape pens, pods, juices, and other products were taken off the streets during “Operation Vape Out.” This was a four-week statewide investigation aimed at confiscating illegal vape products sold by retail and wholesale businesses, and identifying and arresting the people responsible.
Officials said 10 suspects are facing a variety of charges, including possession of schedule I narcotics, unlawful possession of hallucinogenic plants, felony possession of nitrous oxide, and immigration violations.
The ATC reports that the tens of thousands of illegal and unauthorized products seized include:
- 34,000 pens, pods, and juices
- 16,000 CBD gummies, liquids, and pre-rolled cigarettes
- 6,500 containers of nitrous oxide (N2O)
- 1,800 schedule I narcotics, including marijuana, tianeptine (“gas station heroin”), and psilocybin
- 1,500 tainted sexual enhancement products
The Louisiana State Police (LSP), the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office (LSFM), Louisiana State Probation and Parole (LSP&P), and the federal Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) assisted the ATC with this investigation.
Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.
Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2025 WAFB. All rights reserved.
