CULLMAN —
A Cullman man and local store manager is facing drug charges as a result of an investigation by the Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET).
Undercover officers made two controlled buys of synthetic marijuana from the Good Hope Exxon on U.S. Highway 69 late last week. After obtaining a search warrant, officers executed the warrant and arrested Vinodbhai Rajnikant Patel. While there, they seized 389 packets of the drug and over $1,900 in cash.
“We appreciate the help of the public. It’s how the case was made,” Assistant Cullman City Police Chief Craig Green said. “We also appreciate the hard work and effort CNET put forward.”
According to an officer with CNET, the investigation began after receiving complaints from the public of young kids purchasing the product.
The psychoactive herbal and chemical substances have been sold in a variety of stores and marketed online as herbal incense as Spice and K2, but an executive order passed by Gov. Robert Bentley in mid October has allowed law enforcement agencies across the state to seize the drug.
Patel was charged with two counts of distribution and one county of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
He is out of jail on a $65,000 bond.
* Ashley Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 225 or by email at agraves@cullmantimes.com
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