Pubdate: Thu, 23 Feb 2012
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Felisa Cardona. The Denver Post

DENVER COPS BUST CONVENIENCE STORE NEAR EAST HIGH FOR SYNTHETIC
MARIJUANA, STEROIDS

Synthetic marijuana was sold from a Denver convenience market just 
1,000 feet from East High School and police say students and the 
surrounding neighbors were customers.

After a month-long investigation, the owner and manager of Sun Mart at 
2405 E. Colfax Avenue and a clerk were arrested and face felony 
charges for selling the drugs.

The investigation began after police received numerous complaints 
students were buying the synthetic marijuana, commonly referred to as 
"spice," from the Sun Mart.

Spice is exponentially more potent than smoking a marijuana joint, 
said Lt. Aaron Sanchez.

In July, it became illegal to sell Spice in Colorado. In January, it 
became illegal to possess the drug as well, Sanchez said.

Asked if it's possible the accused employees didn't know the laws had 
recently changed, Sanchez said that was no excuse.

"Ignorance is not an affirmative defense," he said.

The case may be one of the first to be prosecuted under the new law in 
Denver County.

"It'll be new for our D.A.'s and the court system as well," Sanchez 
said. "We feel like a legal loophole has been closed."

On Wednesday night, police got a search warrant and found 12 pounds of 
spice packaged in 1,000 containers that each had a street value of 
$20. The spice had special names on the containers like "Black Mamba."

Police also found $36,216.50 in cash they believe was from the sales 
of the drug.

Sanchez said the officers were surprised to find 100 steroid tablets 
they initially thought were Ecstasy tablets.

One of the suspects told police the tablets were for "working out," 
Sanchez said. Police said they don't know yet if the steroids were 
also being sold from the market.

Vice and narcotics officers photographed drug paraphernalia including 
digital scales, rolling papers and glass pipes typically used to smoke 
drugs like marijuana, crack and methamphetamines.

The store's owner and manager Maher Awad, 45, and clerk Abdelilah 
Dehry, 57, are facing felony charges.

Spice became prevalent in the drug scene about two years ago.

The Sun Mart case may not be the end of the investigation.

"This is not the only store we are looking at," Sanchez said.
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