JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An Action News Jax investigation exposes local convenience stores accused of selling items used to smoke crack cocaine.
A man who went into the local stores to buy the items brought the video to Action News. We've blurred his face and altered his voice to protect his identity. The video was taken Saturday. The man tells us for $4 he bought the items commonly used to smoke crack cocaine. "I walked up, asked the guy for a rose and he knew what I was asking for," said the man.
We also obtained video from a different store in Springfield where someone bought the same thing, a pen that doesn't write. That's why the man is bringing the video forward. Neighbors want the drugs out. "It's gotten out of hand in that area," said the man.
We went to both stores and asked to speak with management. The man behind the counter in one said he didn't speak English well, isn't the owner and didn't know what we were talking about. It was the same thing at the second store.
"Those are items you wouldn't find hidden under the counter," said Action News Law and Safety expert Dale Carson. He says the items are considered drug paraphernalia and the owners could be charged, if the state can prove the sellers knew they were selling items to be used for drugs. "It's clear it's being used for illicit purposes and the Sheriff's Office could enforce it based on this law," said Carson.
This man just wants the neighborhood cleaned up. "We want the drugs out, the dealers away from here, and away from kids, and parents to be educated on what's going on and what to look for," said the man.
JSO says it has forwarded the information to our narcotics unit to look into any deeper or underlying problems. They also say, "However, on the surface, no crime appears to have been committed looking at the information provided. Household products can sometimes be utilized for illegal purposes, and this is unfortunate. The simple act of selling or buying these items does not constitute a crime."
WJAX
