Authorities Raid Sequoyah County Novelty Shop For K2

Deputies and drug task force members raided a Sequoyah County adult store Tuesday morning and found more than $700,000 worth of illegal drugs.

CBS affiliate KFSM in Fort Smith reports the clerk, Donnie Tuck, 40, of Alma, Arkansas, was arrested at the Outer Zone in Roland and stockpiles of synthetic marijuana were seized.

"Synthetic drugs is one of the biggest problems we have right now," said Sheriff Ron Lockhart.

It was the drug bust no one saw coming.

For months, investigators say the shop was selling synthetic marijuana to undercover officers.

"He actually told our agent when he bought it that, ‘This will get you high,'" said Tony Evans, Sequoyah County assistant district attorney and director of the Drug Task Force for District 27.

It's packaged and sold as "Syn," "K2" or "Spice," and is often labeled as potpourri or incense.

The Sequoyah County sheriff said buyers think it's safe and legal.

"Kids are using it. Adults are using it. We had a homicide the other day and we learned through that, that they smoked synthetic. I don't know if that played a role in it, but it dang sure ain't helping things," Lockhart said.

Even as deputies and drug task force agents raided the shop, it didn't stop the flow of customers swarming in for synthetic drugs.

"They seem to be oblivious to the fact that there's police vehicles in the parking lot, a large trailer that indicates the sheriff's office is here. It's clearly a common occurrence," Evans said.

An Outer Zone location in Tahlequah is also being investigated by authorities there.

See the story by CBS affiliate KFSM in Fort Smith for more.