Nearly 4,900 packages of illegal edibles seized from Oakboro tobacco shop; owner charged

OAKBORO, N.C. — A joint operation involving undercover investigators in Oakboro seized 4,872 packages of illegal THC edible gummies from a tobacco shop on Thursday, the police department stated.

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The operation involving the police department and the Alcohol Law Enforcement agency stemmed from community complaints of illegal TCH products being sold out of Oakboro Tobacco and Vape, located at 214 Alonzo Drive.

People complained about the potential harmful effects of the store’s products that caused “drastic physical reactions.”

A tipster said they bought “Gusher Gummies” that had an aftermarket label that read, “Must Be 21-DELTA 8 THC 1000 mg.” The original manufacturing packaging is labeled “Cannabis/Marijuana, a Scheduled I Controlled Substance in California.”

Police and ALE agents went undercover and bought “Medicated Tropical Skittles,” “Infused Gusher’s” and marijuana paraphernalia from the store.

ALE special agents and officers with the Oakboro Police Department executed a search warrant at the tobacco shop.

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In addition to seizing the gummies, authorities found marijuana paraphernalia, illegal detox drinks and some more than $13,000.

The total street value of the contraband seized was worth $172,127, police said.

The owner, Hazem Musaed Ahmed Al-Hariri, 37, of Oakboro, was charged with:

• Trafficking marijuana by possession
• Possession with the intent to sell and deliver Schedule VI controlled substance
• Sell and deliver Schedule VI controlled substance
• Maintain a dwelling for controlled substance
• Possess marijuana paraphernalia
• Possess drug paraphernalia
• Possess adulterants to defraud a drug/alcohol test

Al-Harri was issued a $350,000 secured bond and is currently in the Stanly County Detention Center.

Channel 9 is looking into the possibility that Al-Harri could have received multiple shipments.

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