Three Convenience stores in Stephens County caught selling Schedule I Narcotics

Three convenience stores in Stephens County were recently searched by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, on September 16, three search warrants were executed at three different convenience stores related to the sale of Schedule I narcotics.

Shirley says in 2019, Stephens County’s Chief Deputy Andy Myers along with an investigator and deputy, traveled to every store in Toccoa and Stephens County that were selling vapes and vape products, to warn owners and employees about the sale and distribution of THC vapes and gummy type edibles.

Each store was individually instructed regarding the legality of these products and were warned to remove illegal products from their shelves. Chief Myers and investigators checked each store again in August 2021 and found several stores were still selling illegal products. The stores were given a second warning to remove the illegal items from their store shelves immediately.

On September 16, 2021, Investigators traveled to three locations in Stephens County that continued to ignore Georgia law by selling the illegal products, and rejected the two previous warnings by sheriff’s office investigators to remove the illegal products from their shelves.

Shirley says his office used an undercover officer who purchased a vape cartridge from each of the three businesses. The illegal vape cartridges were then tested, and all three indicated a high level of THC.

Based on the purchase and testing of these products investigators procured search warrants for all three businesses. The sheriff’s office criminal Investigation Division, accompanied by deputies, simultaneously executed search warrants at The Smoke Shop, located at 330 Walmart Way, Royal Foods, located at 2668 Hwy 106, and RK Foods located at 1194 West Currahee Street.

Investigators recovered more than 1,300 products containing Delta 9 THC including gummy type edibles, as well as raw green leafy materials. These products have a combined value of approximately $60,000. Investigators also seized more than $70,000 in cash from the three businesses.

Arrest warrants were later issued for the owner of each business for possession of a schedule I substance with intent to distribute.

Two of the owners, Rajdeep Singh Jogi, 27, of Buford Georgia (RK Foods), and Ali Saif-Mohamed Al-Hadrami, 24, of Toccoa, (Smoke Shop) have been arrested and released on bond.

The sheriff’s office continues to look for the other business owner, Ghulam Mohammad, 64, of Buford Georgia (Royal Foods).

As of Friday, October 8th, Mr. Mohammad is still at-large and is a wanted fugitive.