Sheriff's Office investigating convenience stores, tobacco shops in Onslow Co.

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of six men who were arrested as part of joint investigation into the sale of a vape oil called “Black Magic.”

Walid Nagi Hasson, Zakarya M. Mashrah, Ghamdan Al Muluiki, Yunus Naji, Sameer Alzaokari, Adbulmalek Al-Sabhi have all been charged in connection to the investigation. The Sheriff’s Office said more arrests are expected.

Black Magic, also known as “Pure Magic”; “White Knight”; “Black Diamond”; and “Zen,” is a vape oil that contains an indazole carboxamid Schedule I controlled substance.

Jacksonville police said a total of 88 bottles CBD Oils with high concentration of THC, 32 packages of Marijuana, 52 bottles Zen, one bottle Black Magic, 72 bottles White Knight, 100 bottles Pure Magic, 219 bottles of an unknown liquid and $398,970.49 was seized.

The investigation began in 2017, when the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville police began receiving complaints of the vape oil being sold in local tobacco shops.

Officers began to seize the substance during traffic stops and began an investigation.

Jacksonville police said the vape oil has been known to cause multiple medical emergencies with symptoms ranging from hallucinations, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, chest pains, disorientation, and loss of memory.

The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office said a Swansboro High School student who borrowed a vape pen containing Black Magic from a friend passed out in a classroom.

The owner of the vape pen told the Sheriff’s Office he bought the vape oil from Highway 24 Tobacco Store.

The Swansboro Police Department reported that a 75-year-old man who purchased Black Magic from the same store went into cardiac distress.

Between October 2017 and February 2018, members of NCIS, the Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville police conducted controlled buys of Black Magic at 18 different tobacco and alcohol businesses.

Investigators said these types of vape oils were also being sold in Wilson, Goldsboro, and Fayetteville

In December 2017, investigators identified the source of the vape oils, the subject of their investigation.

On Friday, members of the NCIS, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville police served 18 warrants to 18 separate businesses in Onslow County. Another four warrants were served in Fayetteville.

At an Express Mart on Gum Branch Road, a man has been put in handcuffs, and crime scene tape is surrounding the building.

Jacksonville police were seen at a tobacco store on Western Boulevard.

Jacksonville police were also at Prince Tobacco off Gum Branch Road.

Sheriff Hans Miller released the following statement:

“This case is one of the many examples that shows that illegal drugs are able to infiltrate every level and class of citizens. From the high school student to the senior citizen, drug dealers are finding ways to attack the moral fiber of our community. I am excited to say that through the continued cooperation of multiple agencies, the Sheriff’s Office was able to make an impact today. I am proud of the members of the community who brought their concerns to our agency and of the cooperation of the multiple agencies involved in this investigation.”

Anyone with information about this incident may contact Onslow County Sheriff’s Office at 910-455-3113 or Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273.

Locations in Onslow County that were served search warrants:

Tobacco Leaf- 343 Western Blvd, Jacksonville

Sahara Hookah Lounge- 917 N. Marine Blvd, Jacksonville

Speedy’s Drive Thru- 357 Henderson Drive,

Prince Tobacco- 1796 Gum Branch Rd, Jacksonville

Moe’s Mart- 2105 Belgrade Swansboro Rd, Maysville

Highlands Tobacco- 835 Piney Green Rd, Jacksonville

OJ’s Tobacco & Vapor- 8900 Richlands Hwy, Richlands

One Stop Shop- 501 Corbin Ave, Jacksonville

Nash Market- 237 New River Dr, Jacksonville

Highway 24 Tobacco- 1448 W. Corbett Ave, Swansboro