Deputies find more danger in vape drugs

For the second time in recent weeks, a local law enforcement agency has seized vape liquid that officers say contains “incredibly dangerous” substances.
“This isn’t just a vape,” the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. “It’s a toxic cocktail that has landed people in ERs, and is potentially very dangerous.”
The Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest at 4:17 p.m. May 28 of Jamon Herbert, 31, Thibodaux, on a charge of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug.
Javvon Jaquanta Williams, 20, Thibodaux, has been named in a warrant alleging possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug.
St. Mary Parish narcotics detectives conducted an April 29 traffic stop in the Patterson area and discovered four boxes containing 1,800 bottles of what appeared to be a CBD vape liquid.
Three samples were sent to the Acadiana Crime Lab, where testing revealed the presence of synthetic cannabinoids, a man-made chemical compound often sold under names like K2, Spice or fake weed, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Each of these bottles sells for over $100 on the street, for a total value of over $180,000.
The Sheriff’s Office warns that synthetic cannabis is not the same as marijuana.
“It’s unpredictable, unregulated, and incredibly dangerous,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
The health risks include seizures, breathing problems, chest pain and rapid heartbeat, bleeding disorders, high blood pressure and potential overdose.
“Many of these products are imported with no quality control, making them even more dangerous,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “They’re often sold to teens, disguised in colorful packaging or labeled ‘safe’ or ‘legal.’ They’re neither.”
On May 15, Morgan City police made four arrests at two local vape shops after executing search warrants.
An investigation originally targeting THC vape products turned up products containing tianeptine, also known as “Gas Station Heroin.”
The drug is used overseas as an anti-depressant but not approved for medical use in the United States. Tianeptine has been linked to symptoms that include agitation, coma, confusion, drowsiness, high blood pressure, nausea, respiratory depression, sweating, irregular heartbeat, vomiting and even death.