Louisiana’s Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control led a crackdown on illegal vape products that included raids in Shreveport, Lafayette and Baton Rouge and 10 arrests.
The Louisiana ATC was joined in its statewide “Vape-Out” investigation by the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Fire Marshal’s Office, Louisiana State Probation and Parole and the federal Homeland Security Investigations.
Agents suspended the operating licenses of the following businesses: Smokin Aces Smoke Shop, 14455 Wax Road, Baton Rouge; Candle Hookah Smoke Shop, 2865 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Lafayette;
Old Smokey, 3302 Johnston St., Lafayette); Vapes ‘R’ Us, 334 N. Market St., Shreveport; 318 Cloudz, 307 E. Texas, Shreveport; and 318 Cloudz, 2501 Beene Blvd., Shreveport.
The month-long investigation also resulted in the seizure of more than $1 million worth of illegal vape pens, pods, juices and other products, according to the ATC.
Suspects were arrested on a variety of charges including including possession of schedule 1 narcotics, unlawful possession of hallucinogenic plants, felony possession of nitrous oxide and immigration violations.
The Louisiana ATC also issued more than 140 citations for alcohol, tobacco, alternative tobacco and consumable hemp violations, while the Fire Marshal’s office issued more than 150 citations for safety and fire code violations.
Among the confiscated products: 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; and 1,500 tainted sexual enhancement products.
The ATC encourages anyone with information about the illegal sale of vape products in Louisiana to submit a complaint at www.atc.louisiana.gov.
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
