Pubdate: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 Source: Rock Island Argus (IL) Copyright: 2005 Moline Dispatch Publishing Company, L.L.C Contact: http://www.qconline.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1392 Author: Dustin Lemmon Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?228 (Paraphernalia) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/rose+tube R.I. CONVENIENCE STORE OWNERS ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE Two Rock Island convenience store owners were arrested Wednesday for allegedly selling drug paraphernalia at their store at 2030 11th St. Rami Fahmi Qattoum, 27, of 3602 35th St., and Mahdi A. Qattoum, 34, of 4833 50th Ave., both of Moline, were charged in Rock Island County Circuit Court Wednesday. Rami Qattoum faces two counts of unlawful sale of drug paraphernalia and Mahdi Qattoum faces one count of the same charge. According to court records, the men are accused of selling rose tubes - -- small glass tubes containing a fabric rose -- and steel wool at the Quick Shop to undercover police officers. Rami Qattoum allegedly sold the items July 12 and 14 and Mahdi Qattoum allegedly sold them July 6, court records state. The tubes and steel wool can be used to make a crack pipe. Capt. John Wright of the Rock Island police said detectives were interviewing the two men Wednesday afternoon. They were to be taken to the Rock Island County Jail Wednesday evening where they were each to be held on $20,000 bail. Capt. Wright said officers started investigating after receiving complaints from citizens, including Ald. Terry Brooks, 1st Ward. Capt. Wright noted that several convenience stores and hardware stores sell similar items, but in this case the undercover officers have evidence that the men knew how the items were going to be used when they sold them. He said he could not give specific details about the investigation. Norma Nunez, an assistant Rock Island County State's Attorney, said she also could not release details about the investigation. She said the two men are due in court today for their first appearances. Rene Sandoval, director of the Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, said local police have been finding crack pipes made of the glass rose tubes in local investigations. The steel wool is used as a filter. Mr. Sandoval said the rose tubes are sold as novelty items, but drug users take out the rose and convert the pipe into a tube for smoking crack. He said just about any tube can be used for smoking crack, including a hollow pin or antennae with the tips cut off, but the rose tubes are a popular form of paraphernalia. "We've come across them definitely, on several occasions," Mr. Sandoval said. "It's the trendy thing right now." Mr. Sandoval said other cities like Chicago, have established ordinances prohibiting the sale of the rose tubes, but no local cities have developed such ordinances. Capt. Wright said Rock Island police will continue to investigate citizen complaints involving the rose tubes, but said a check of other local stores turned up no illegal activity. "We checked other convenience stores throughout the city of Rock Island and we didn't have any other problems," he said. Capt. Wright said the police encourage citizens to report similar incidents. "This is an important issue to the community," he said. "We want to make sure most of our local businesses are working with us to prevent this kind of activity, but when they don't we want to make sure citizens report it." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin