Store Owners Plead Guilty to Selling Synthetic Cannabinoids

Two storeowners have pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Concord, NH, to selling synthetic cannabinoids, according to a press statement.

Murshed Salam of Salem, NH, and Mohamed Alam of North Andover, MA, both entered guilty verdicts for selling a line of synthetic cannabinoids known as “Monkey products.” The products were described as leafy substances sprayed with chemical compounds similar to the THC, the active ingredient found in marijuana. Both face one year in prison as well as fines and money forfeitures.

According to investigators, in June 2013, federal agents raided the Richdale Convenience Store on Main Street in North Andover owned by Alam and seized 100 packages of the product. At the time, according to prosecutors, Alam told agents that he knew customers were smoking the product even though the packaging included a warning that it wasn’t for human consumption.

Alam fingered Salam as his supplier and agents went to the Global Gas Station on Lowell Road in Salem and seized several hundred more packages of the products. Salam admitted to selling the products and supplying them to Alam, according to the press release.

“The products Alam and Salam sold were misbranded because they were sold as potpourri when in fact the product was intended for use as a drug for human consumption and the product labeling, in package form, failed to include the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, did not bear adequate directions for use, and did not bear such adequate warnings against use,” according to court documents.

Acting U.S. Attorney Donald Feith called the synthetic products a public health threat.

“This office has notified merchants and businesses about the illegality of selling these products and the dangers they pose to the public,” he said in a statement. “We will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to investigate and prosecute those businesses who continue to introduce these dangerous products into the stream of commerce.”

North Andover Police Chief Paul Gallagher added, “Our school resource officers are educating students of these illicit drugs and their unknown ingredients that can cause traumatic overdose and other medical issues. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement and community partners in combating substances that harm our citizens.”