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Fifteen people have been arrested for selling synthetic marijuana in convenience stores throughout the St. Tammany Parish, according to Sheriff Jack Strain.

"The arrests come as a result of a months-long investigation into the selling of the substances, which were banned by the legislature in July of this year," said a statement from St. Tammany Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. George Bonnett.

During the investigation, 11 stores were found to still be selling the banned substances and sold packages to the agents, according to the sheriff's office.  "In some cases the agents, acting on information gained during the investigation, had to use code words when asking for the products.  In one case, a former business owner was selling stock that was left over from the closing of a store," said Bonnett.

"The operation began when members of the task force, acting on intelligence gathered about an overseas shipment destined for St. Tammany Parish, set up a surveillance post at the Mandeville Post Office.  Two individuals were observed at the post office taking receipt of a package, which contained raw materials to be used in the manufacture of synthetic marijuana," said Bonnett.

During the investigation, local manufacturing labs were also identified in Talisheek and in St. Helena parish, according to the sheriff's office. 

"Agents shut down the Talisheek operation, named JNA Manufacturing, and dismantled the lab.  The investigation of the St. Helena lab was turned over to State Police and federal agents," said Bonnett.

The task force seized approximately 8,500 packets of the synthetic marijuana, nearly $115,000 in cash and eight vehicles connected to the distribution of the drugs, according to sheriff's office.

Arrested in the sting operation were: Angela Boothe, Carl Boothe, Kamal Sbith, Arshad A. Tahir, Jennifer Cozine, Grant Cozine, Hassan Aljebouri, Ronald Chow, Luisa Chow, Ajit Saini, Veena Saini, Adil Elbashad, Ahmed Atta, Jamal Salhoot AKA Jimmy Martin

Two other store owners, Hassan Sffibli and Al Khalaqi Saleh Kaid Ali,  were out of the country, according to sheriff's office, and were not arrested. 

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