Cops bust fake pot operation run out of gas station
TRENTON » Eleven people were arrested over the weekend after police busted up a blatant drug dealing operation being run out of a city gas station.
Officials say the unsophisticated drug operation was so blatant that cops received numerous calls from citizens who detected the scheme being run out of the Valero gas station in the 400 block of Greenwood Avenue.
During the investigation Saturday, cops witnessed buyers hand cash to a gas station attendant, later identified as 25-year-old Kaliyuga Saluguti, who would then walk inside the convenience store and pass the money off to another employee identified as 25-year-old Crystal Stockhouse.
Police say Stockhouse would then walk to the rear of the store and return with synthetic marijuana, which she handed to Saluguti who would then walk outside and give the product to the customer.
“They were dealing synthetic marijuana right out of the gas station,” Capt. Stephen Varn said.
Officials say detectives also witnessed 24-year-old Marquise Anderson loitering outside the store selling fake weed to customers.
In addition to those three alleged dealers, police also arrested eight alleged buyers: Robert Carroll, 37, Joseph Thomas, 38, Alto Turner, 26, Arthur Saunders, 29, Jabre Harmon, 24, Joshua Dennis, 22, Christoph Calverley, 32, and 21-year-old Corey Alden, who led police on a brief foot chase before being arrested.
When police searched the gas station, they found several bags of synthetic pot stashed in various locations in the rear office of the building. In total, cops seized 60 grams of fake weed and $12,647 in cash, as suspected proceeds from drug sales.
Police say the owner of gas station was not involved in the drugdealing operation and fully cooperated with detectives before and during the investigation.
The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Street Crimes Unit under the direction of Lt. John Breece, along with assistance from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.