SPRINGFIELD — Two Springfield residents were arrested in the largest synthetic marijuana seizure in Bay County history, Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced Friday.
Johnny Vihn Nguyen, 25, and Sarah Joanna Mills, 25, were arrested Friday at about 1 a.m. after a month-long investigation by BCSO. Deputies raided the couple’s home at 506 Jennings Ave., finding more than 30 pounds of synthetic marijuana in various stages of being mixed with acetone or bath salts, McKeithen said during a press conference Friday afternoon.
Two large white garbage bags were near filled with finished product, which is sometimes crudely manufactured in a wheel barrow or other less-than hygienic conditions.
--- VIDEO: SHERIFF FRANK McKEITHEN DISCUSSES BUST»»
“Because this is not a scientific method, there are portions with more acetone or bath salts than others and that is the dangerous part,” McKeithen said. “We’ve seen incidents of this being sold in schools and students taken to the hospital for ingesting synthetic marijuana.”
Within the past week, BCSO has noticed at least three occurrences of high school students being hospitalized after using synthetic marijuana. McKeithen said investigators are looking for a link to the Jennings Avenue bust and those incidents, and he expects additional charges for Nguyen and Mills.
The street value of the bust was estimated at about $135,000 for the seizure, but McKeithen said more than 100-pounds could have spread from the home throughout the county before undercover agents located the source.
--- VIDEO: SHERIFF FRANK McKEITHEN DISCUSSES BUST»»
Nguyen has been charged with manufacturing, possession of marijuana and some with intent to distribute and paraphernalia possession. Mills has been charged with possession of synthetic marijuana with intent to distribute and paraphernalia possession.
McKeithen took the opportunity of the occasion to highlight the dangers of synthetic marijuana use.
“People say you can’t die from marijuana and assume it is the same for synthetic marijuana, but you can die from this stuff,” he said. “This stuff is poison and it can kill you.”