Multiple arrests were made in Lowndes County following a sting operation conducted at two vape shops and two convenience stores in Columbus.
The operation took place on Thursday, Jan. 16, but the planning for it started several months in advance.
Police conducted raids on four different stores in the area. The stores that were targeted include Exotic Smokerz located on Highway 45 North, Ready Mart on North McCrary Road, Union Stop on Main Street, and Smokers Universe on Idlewild Road.
The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office has announced that these stores were engaged in the illegal sale of marijuana.
“These stores were selling illegal marijuana to underage children,” Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said. “So we started an investigation on the stores themselves and the types of product they are selling.”
The local law enforcement, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, collaborated on the operation.
The names of the suspects and the charges they face are expected to be announced by the sheriff’s office in the near future.