Beverage Castle Sold More Than Drinks, Deputies Say

TAMPA, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says employees at Tampa’s Beverage Castle were selling more than drinks to customers who passed through.

A two-month investigation into alleged criminal activities at the 4206 Orient Road business netted three arrests and a stockpile of synthetic marijuana, also known as spice, an email from the agency said. During the operation, undercover deputies purchased spice on several occasions from various employees at the store, the email said. Those purchases led the agency to obtain a search warrant, which was served Tuesday night.

“During the search warrant, approximately 249 bags (valued at approximately $5,000) of suspected spice were seized totaling 5,030 grams or 11 lbs. and $4,725 in US Currency,” the email said. “A large quantity of the spice was concealed within the wall covered by a large board.”

See Also:

• Suspected Spice-Related Overdose Calls Climb In St. Pete

Three people were arrested following the investigation: Christopher Campbell, 29, of Tampa; Lance Edgeman, 32, of Plant City; and Benjamin Sanford, 24, of Tampa. All three face delivery of a control substance and possession of a controlled substance charges, the sheriff’s office said.

The arrest comes as spice-related overdose calls are climbing in some parts of Tampa Bay. The St. Petersburg Police Department recently fielded 28 calls over the course of a few days, attributed to what was believed to be a bad batch of the illegal substance.

Spice contains a mix of herbs and chemicals meant to mimic the effects of other drugs, such as marijuana. Often packaged to be attractive to children, many of the ingredients used in spice production are illegal in Florida.

Photos of the seized items and Campbell, Edgeman and Sanford courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

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