5 indicted in alleged synthetic drug ring in Minnesota
A federal grand jury has indicted five people in an alleged synthetic drug ring in Mankato and around Minnesota.
U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said Thursday the indictment charges the five with conspiring to distribute synthetic cannabinoids.
The indictment says Omar Wazwaz, 33, of New Brighton owned multiple smoke shops around Minnesota, including "Smoke 4 Less" in Mankato, and sold smokeable cannabinoids.
Prosecutors say the drugs were dissolved in acetone or alcohol and sprayed on leafy plant material for distribution.
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The charges say Wazwaz started making and selling his own brands of the drugs in 2011 and imported the active ingredients from China.
The U.S. attorney says it found evidence of a 20-kilogram order of synthetic drugs to be shipped to Mankato.
The other four — Taleb Awad, Vladimir Brik, Steven Lyke and Daniel Lyke — are accused of conspiring with Wazwaz to manufacture and sell the drugs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.