Attorney General DeWine takes criminal, civil action against synthetic drug crimes

NEW CARLISLE, Ohio (WDTN) - State and local law enforcement served five search warrants in three counties Friday morning in a crackdown on the sale of synthetic drugs.

Agents raided the Quality Food Market in New Carlisle, and the Montgomery County home of the store's owner.  The owner was arrested and charged with three felony counts of trafficking in a controlled substance.

The owner of the market told 2 NEWS as he was being taken into custody that he didn't sell the drugs, but authorities say not only was he selling synthetic marijuana, he'd also ignored their warnings to stop after Ohio added to its synthetic drug laws to cover the variations manufacturers put out to get around the law.

That's why Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine decided to send a stronger message.

"This should frankly be a warning to anyone who runs a store like this," DeWine says. "Stop selling things that are illegal. Stop selling things that kill people."

Not only was the owner, Munir Alhmidat, who many knew as Mike Howard, arrested on drug trafficking charges but so was a clerk, Fadi Shoukri.

Residents we talked with say they won't be sad to see the store go.

"I'm glad they caught him if that's what he's doing," says Luke Lewis who has friends near the store. "Cause our grandkids don't need to be doing it."

The market sits in the middle of a neighborhood where some say they often had their suspicions.

"I've always know that place to be a bad place," says Kelsey Moore, who lives across the street. "It doesn't surprise me one bit."

Authorities say they were tipped off that the store was selling synthetic marijuana because of one mother's complaint after her son bought it there.

Now neighbors can rest easy knowing their children's safety is no longer for sale.

"All of these chemicals have killed," says Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly. "They've destroyed lives. They've caused mayhem."

DeWine is also filing a nuisance complaint against the store to try to get it shut down for a year.

Warrants in two separate cases were also served in Guernsey County at Bubby's Drive Thru in Byesville and at Party Time Carryout and its owner's home, both in Cambridge.