Tobacco Leaf Sold Synthetic 'Spices' to Teens, Police Say

Law enforcement officials raided the Tobacco Leaf Wednesday evening after an undercover investigation revealed the shop was selling synthetic “spices” to juveniles, police said.

The State Street shop was raided after a narcotics investigation led by Northampton Township Police Department.

Police from Northampton, assisted by Newtown Borough Police, seized about $10,000 worth of drug paraphernalia from the Tobacco Leaf, according to Northampton Detective Bill Klein.

Police got a search warrant for the raid after they determined the business was selling drug paraphernalia and synthetic “spices” to juveniles from Northampton Township, police said.

According to police, the "spices" are synthetic marijuana.

During the raid, law enforcement officials seized various paraphernalia, including 177 pipes, 21 grinders, 70 scales and approximately 300 packages of an assortment of spices, Klein said.

Althought the paraphernalia was on display, customers had to ask specifically for the spices, which were marked “not for human consumption,” detectives said. Clerks would retrieve the spices from underneath the counter.

Prices for the spices were $20 to $40 and were called Orgasmo, Bizarro and Funky Monkey, among other names, police said.

When customers paid for the spices, the money was placed in a separate area, not in the register, police said.

Police said during their undercover investigation, officers witnessed juveniles under the influence who would purchase spices.

Holland resident Deborah Kiernicki was arrested in conjunction with the investigation, police said. According to police, Kiernicki would drive teens to the Tobacco Leaf, purchase spices for them and allow them to smoke the spices at her home. Police said she also bought beer for the teens.

She has been charged with corrupting the morals of a minor and providing alcohol to minors, police said.

Charges are pending against the owners of the business, Klein said.