Bath Salt Sales Raided by Sheriff's Office - WHIZ

Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said three area gas stations were raided Friday morning for selling bath salts.

This comes shortly after Governor John Kasich signed a bill making the possession and sale of the product illegal. Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said his deputies executed search warrants at three locations- The State Street Market, Norwich BP and a convenience store at the corner of Maysville and Eppley Avenues.

"I think you'll find some of these places are getting some type of release from the company that they're buying some of this from, telling them that the substance inside it is legal," explained Lutz. "But it's still there responsibility for what goes on the street and what they're selling."

Lutz said bath salts were recovered at all three locations. The Sheriff also emphasized his concern for drug paraphernalia. He says items such as scales, home-drug-tests, and self-detox are legal to sell simply because the owner's place a sign stating it's for "Tobacco Use Only."

"It could be used for tobacco use but in my almost 22 years of law enforcement we don't see people using that for tobacco use, we see people using that for drug contraband and drug use," said Lutz.

The raids were apart of an ongoing and undercover investigation by the Sheriff's Department and the Zanesville Police Drug Unit. No arrests have been made. Lutz said the owners of the businesses could face charges. The case will be turned over to Muskingum County Prosecutor for review.

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Bath salts sent to area post office - Marietta Times

A New Matamoras man was arrested Friday after picking up packages at the post office filled with illegal bath salts.

The drugs, often labeled for sale as bath products, were banned in Ohio in October and in Marietta in July. Effects from ingested, inhaled or injected bath salts are similar to those caused by meth and cocaine and can include agitation, rapid heart beat, delusions and hallucinations.

Todd W. Grether, 34, of 408 Cougler St., was charged with a third-degree felony possession of drugs and taken to the Washington County Jail, where he remains without bond pending his initial court appearance Monday.

According to a release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, inspectors for the U.S. Postal Service informed officers with the Major Crimes Task Force Wednesday that they had intercepted packages bound for New Matamoras that contained bath salts. Using a federal warrant, postal authorities opened the packages, which contained 25 packets of the drug.

The packets tested positive for MDPV, the chemical found in bath salts that was recently classified as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Grether was informed Friday the packages were ready for pickup, with cash due upon delivery. According to the release, Grether paid $245 for a package with 10 packets of bath salts and said he would return later to pay for the other package.

As he exited the post office, he was taken into custody by task force agents. When questioned, Grether admitted knowing the packets contained bath salts but said he didn't know they were illegal.

Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said the packets were intended for resale.

"He had redeemed the first package, which he was going to sell and then with that money go back and get the other package," he said.

Mincks said the packages were sent from Texas after Grether made a purchase online. The bath salts were discovered by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) task force, which monitors packages.

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