Federal prosecutors have charged more than a dozen people in the Southland in a crackdown on synthetic drugs commonly called “bath salts” and “spice.”
The charges, filed in Los Angeles federal court, target three organizations that allegedly made and distributed thousands of kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, which are designed to mimic the effects of THC, the psychoactive agent in marijuana, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The compounds, which are orally ingested or smoked, often are sold under the brand names “Sexy Monkey,” “Crazy Monkey,” “Scooby Snax,” “Bizarro” and “Mad Hatter,” officials said.
“These are extremely dangerous drugs, despite being falsely marketed to youth as being a ‘safe’ alternative and having innocent names like spice and K2,” said Eileen M. Decker, the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles. “The often unknown and constantly changing chemicals in these drugs can have unpredictable and devastating effects on users. The Department of Justice takes this threat to public health and safety seriously and will prosecute purveyors of synthetic drugs as the drug traffickers that they are.”
The first case, focusing on companies in downtown’s Skid Row district, charges seven defendants:
— Faisal Iqbal, 34, of Glendale;
— Sana Faisal, 32, of Glendale, Faisal Iqbal’s wife;
— Mohammad Iqbal, 65, of Glendale, Faisal Iqbal’s father, a fugitive believed to be in Pakistan;
— Fidencio Garcia Jr, 25, of North Hollywood;
— Ahmad Abu Farie, 54, of Huntington Beach;
— Mohammad Abu Farie, 25, of Huntington Beach, Ahmad Abu Farie’s son; and
— Ehab Abu Farie, 24, of Chandler, Arizona, another son of Ahmad Abu Farie.
A second case focuses on two people — Samia Amaninawabi, 39, of Ontario, and Aziz Maali, 51, formerly of Monterey Park — who allegedly had ties to organizations discussed in the other indictments.
The final case, targeting businesses in Orange County, resulted in charges against another seven people:
— Adnan Bahhur, 55, of Anaheim;
— Islam Bahhur, 29, of Anaheim, Adnan Bahhur’s son;
— Hakeem Bahhur, 24, of Anaheim, another son of Adnan Bahhur;
— Maesa Bahhur, 44, of Greenville, South Carolina, Adnan Bahhur’s daughter;
— Mohamad Hamade, 31, of Irvine;
— Oun Alrzouq, 49, of Anaheim; and
— Yasir Harb, 55, of Romoland in Riverside County.
Most of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess with intent to distribute, and distribute controlled substance analogues, a charge that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors said Thursday.
— Wire reports