Houston Police Arrest 2 Men, Seize $2.5 Million In Massive Kush Bust

HOUSTON, TX -- Two men are behind bars after an investigation by the Houston Police Department led to the seizure of nearly 600 pounds of synthetic marijuana, valued at $2.5 million.

Ataur Rehman Malik, 38, and Mohamed Ebrahim Moton, 47 were charged Wednesday with delivery of synthetic cannabinoids.

The two men were arrested at a home in the Alief area that was specifically used to manufacture the synthetic drug, officials said.

If convicted, they could face up to life in prison and up to a $100,000 fine.

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Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County DA Kim Ogg, and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announced the arrest and subsequent seizure during a press conference on Thursday.

Acevedo, who showed off the estimated 100,000 doses of the synthetic drug, offered a word of caution to potential manufactures of the drug.

“Quit, or move out of the City of Houston while you still can, because we will find you...and you will do some real serious time in prison,” he said.

The six-month long investigation is part of Turner’s initiative to erase the street drug known as Kush, K2, or Spice, from the streets, after more than a dozen people overdosed on Kush last summer in Herman Park.

"We will not tolerate the manufacturing, sale and distribution of this drug,” Turner said Thursday.

Both men are being held in the Harris County Jail with a bond of $300,000.

A third suspect is held in the Fort bend County Jail, officials said.

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