QUINCY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Tallahassee Regional Operations Center arrested Karime Hasan Halim and Wesem Mahmud Halim after a four month long investigation into synthetic marijuana being sold at Kelly’s JR #5, 843 Havana Hwy., Quincy, Fla. and The Country Store, 5667 Bainbridge Hwy., Quincy, Fla.
FDLE Agents, in conjunction with the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms served a search warrant at the convenience stores yesterday and seized 802 bags of synthetic marijuana with a street value of $20,500. Investigators also seized $60,000 in currency, firearms and counterfeit designer apparel.
Karime and Wesem Halim were each arrested yesterday on charges of felony possession of synthetic narcotics with intent to sell, manufacture, deliver and use or display of a firearm during commission of a felony. Both were booked into the Gadsden County Jail on $50,000 bond.
The Office of the State Attorney, 2nd Judicial Circuit will prosecute the case.
Synthetic marijuana, also known as Spice, is dried plant material with psychoactive chemicals added. Often marketed to Florida’s youth, these dangerous drugs are powerful stimulants. Synthetic drugs killed 30 Floridians in the first six months of 2013, the latest reported numbers in the Florida Medical Examiners Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons report.
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Samantha Andrews or Steve Arthur
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001