MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Multiple businesses suspected of illegally selling vaping products to underage customers were the target of Martin County deputies this past weekend.
The sheriff's office said in a Facebook post that the bust was "in response to rising concerns from parents about minors gaining access to vaping products."
WATCH BELOW: 27 people arrested in Martin County vaping crackdown
Called "Operation Smoke Signals," the operation resulted in the arrest of more than 27 people from more than 20 retail shops.
"In some cases, multiple employees from the same establishment were arrested in this controlled operation, highlighting a systemic oversight in compliance with state regulations," the Facebook post said.
In their Facebook post, the sheriff's office did not release the names of the people arrested or the businesses targeted.
Investigators said one vendor in Jensen Beach was suspected of selling more than just vaping products, leading to the discovery of several illegal substances that resulted in her arrest.
Among the items recovered were:
- 140 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
- 36 psilocybin mushroom chocolate bars
- 7 packets of psilocybin mushroom gummies
- 2 containers of psilocybin syrup
- 6 psilocybin "tabs"
- 1 psilocybin "magical extract"
WPTV reached out to that Jensen Beach shop but did not get a response.
The sheriff's office said this operation aims to only hold businesses accountable for selling to minors but also serve as an awareness campaign for parents and the community about the dangers of vaping and drug use among youth.
"OUR GOAL [IS] TO PROTECT OUR KIDS"
Since taking office in January, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said he's heard from plenty of adults about underage vaping.
"These were parents concerned because their kids were getting in trouble," Budensiek said.
The sheriff's office said they will continue to monitor local retailers as they work to prevent minors from illegally accessing vaping products.
"If we can stop the flow at our level, and save our kids health issues down the road and save them from getting addicted to controlled substances, that's our goal here to protect our kids," Budensiek said.
WPTV reporter Jon Shainman went to half a dozen vape shops in the county, pressing for answers. None of the business owners would go on camera with WPTV.
One shop owner wondered how one of his employees was busted because he showed WPTV how his register has an automatic message that pops up to check for ID whenever a vape or alcoholic product is scanned.
Each owner that WPTV spoke with said they do check IDs.
The Martin County School District said they are pleased to see the law enforcement response.
Vaping was one of four key issues the district is tackling this year, and they have seen some progress.
While data for the high schools wasn’t available, middle school use has dropped.
"The first semester last year we had 109 referrals for the use of tobacco. This year for the first semester it was down to 81," Martin County school spokesman Derek Lowe said.
As for the charges facing those arrested, they are all misdemeanor counts, except in the case of the alleged mushroom sale. That person faces a felony charge.
