Oneida (WSYR-TV) – Police announced on Wednesday that they had recovered around $97,000 in designer drugs from three Stash House locations, in Oneida, Cicero, and Lakeport.
Police also announced that they had charged 43-year-old Raymond Newkirk of Kirkville and 18-year-old Ashley Delaney of Oneida with possession of a controlled substance during the raid.
Among the items seized were bath salts and synthetic marijuana. Police indicated that not all of the products taken during the raid were illegal.
Oneida Police initiated the investigation, which led to a multi-agency investigation in several Central New York locations. The investigation began three months ago.
Among the other agencies participating in the raids were State Police and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.
Oneida City Police Chief David Meeker says the far-reaching nature of the bust will have an impact on a drug that has become a problem for law enforcement.
"I think this is going to put a dent in it. I mean you're talking about quite a bit of product here, cash, three locations," Meeker said.
In Oneida alone, police sieved an estimated $56,500 worth of products, over 2,500 individual packages, and about $16,000 in cash and money orders for synthetic marijuana and bath salts.
"It says not for human consumption but most people aren't going to go in buy potpourri at $25 for a little packet,” Meeker said.
Police had the Oneida Stash House store on their radar as soon as it opened directly across the street from the station.
"We in the City of Oneida basically have what we call a zero tolerance for this type of thing and we're trying to push it as strong as we possibly can,” said Oneida Mayor Don Hudson.
Meeker said the Oneida location was popular among its customers, some of which tried to enter the shop while police were raiding it.
"They had a lot of customers coming in and out, in fact as we were there people wanted to come in,” he said.
Police say more charges are possible, including felonies.
