AGENTS COLLECT DRUG PRODUCTS FROM CITY SHOPS

Hundreds of products that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials
described as drug paraphernalia were seized Thursday from 10 El Paso
businesses as part of Operation Up in Smoke.

The enforcement targeted businesses suspected of selling items that
could be used to consume or conceal drugs or entice minors to use drugs.

"It's clear we're going to aggressively enforce the drug statutes and
we are not going to allow businesses to sell drug paraphernalia in
this community," said Sandalio Gonzalez, special agent in charge of
the DEA in El Paso.

The operation, which involved the assistance of local law enforcement,
did not result in any arrests Thursday. The investigation could lead
to arrests once findings are presented to the U.S. Attorney's Office,
Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the businesses targeted Thursday were Psycha Fashion,
2712 N. Mesa; Psycha Gear, 750 Sunland Park; Headstand, 4409 Dyer;
Aphrodite's Closet, 6217 Airport Road; Xtreme Tattoos & Body Piercing,
at 4022 Montana and 1212 N. Yarbrough; Cool Arrows, 2000 N. Lee
Trevino; Cool Arrows Too, 800 N. Zaragoza; Cool Arrows 3, 1226 McRae;
and Cool Arrows 4, 4919 Hondo Pass.

"The thing is, I didn't know it was illegal to sell pipes and smoking
devices, especially since the swap (meet) and other stores have them.
. It was never intended to harm anybody. I didn't know it was
illegal. I apologize," said Yolanda "Africa" Johnson, owner of
Aphrodite's Closet.

About $200 worth of products were seized from her store, Johnson said.
She said she does not plan to restock the items now that she knows
they could be illegal.

Officials of the other businesses declined to comment or could not be
reached for comment.

Sheriff Leo Samaniego said the El Paso County Sheriff's Department
participated in the effort to help remove drug paraphernalia from El
Paso streets.

"All those items do is glamorize the use of drugs among youth,"
Samaniego said.