The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement have arrested a Pineville man for selling THC products to kids. Tommy Carnline with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says they first heard of the Pineville Smoke Shop, run by 40-year-old Ahmed Gaber of Pineville, from several complaints.
“Through search warrants of the shop and his residence, deputies and agents turned up over 2.5 pounds of THC-infused products,” Carnline explains.
The products include THC-infused gummies, flour and carts for vapes. Carnline says officers also uncovered around $7,000 allegedly from sales, though officers don’t know how many of those sales were made to children specifically. He says attitudes towards marijuana have become very lax, with some even believing it’s legal in Louisiana.
“Well, marijuana is not legal,” he says. “THC is not legal. It is still against the law. And we’re going to enforce the law, especially when it comes to juveniles.”
Gaber was booked in the Rapides Parish Detention Center for distribution of a stage-one classified drug (THC) above 2.5 pounds, and released the same day on a $10,000 bond. Carnline says parents shouldn’t let their kids use vapes or THC products, and he says vapes in schools are a big problem.
“Everybody thinks, ‘Oh, well it’s not cigarettes, it’s not nicotine.’ Well, it’s bad anyway,” he says. “You know, we’re cautioning parents to be aware of what their kids are doing with this type of stuff.”
The investigation is still ongoing, as officers have received more complaints about other stores selling THC and vape products to juveniles.
