SHELL DROPS 3 STATIONS OVER ALLEGED PARAPHERNALIA SALES

LYNNWOOD -- The Shell company has severed its ties with three gas
stations in south Snohomish County after pressure from two local
anti-drug groups that say the stations sold items that could be used
as drug paraphernalia.

The move, which may be unprecedented, means two gas stations in
Lynnwood and one in Everett will soon no longer be able to sell Shell
gasoline or Shell products.

"This is in response to the dealers choosing to sell drug
paraphernalia, which is completely unacceptable," said Shell spokesman
Cameron Smyth, adding, "This certainly should send a message that
Shell will not tolerate this."

A fourth station that agreed to pull specific items from its shelves
can continue selling Shell gas, but is being "aggressively monitored,"
Smyth said Thursday. The stations are owned independently, not run by
Shell.

But activists in two anti-drug groups, Operation Lead-On and Law
Enforcement Alliance with Business and Citizens, say that's not
enough. Both are calling for Shell, a Houston-based company, to adopt
a national zero-tolerance policy that bans the sale of merchandise
these groups say could be used as drug pipes and bongs.

The groups are also asking that Shell inspect its stations to ensure
the items aren't sold.

The groups are planning to protest at Shell stations from 2 to 4 p.m.
Sunday.

"We have been trying to get the word out that they're part of the
problem, not part of the solution," said Susan York, of Mukilteo,
co-founder of Operation Lead-On.

Shell's decision to end its relationship with three stores is a "token
gesture," said Mike Roskind, treasurer of Law Enforcement Alliance
with Business and Citizens.

"They have not taken any significant steps to end or prevent the sale
of drug paraphernalia," said Roskind, a Snohomish County sheriff's
deputy who's participating in the group as a private citizen. "What
they have done is make these individual stations scapegoats."

Both groups have visited local stations and photographed cases of
items for sale including what they believe to be bongs, such as small
glass tubes containing fake roses. Activists say when the roses are
removed the tubes can be used to smoke methamphetamine.

Police say that unless the items have drug residue or are being sold
specifically for illegal drug use, selling them isn't a crime. Some
stores post signs saying the items are for tobacco use, said Lynnwood
Sgt. Paul Hickok.

Shell sent a memo to several stations in November warning them to pull
such items from their shelves and company officials made follow-up
visits to see if that happened, Smyth said. The company then decided
to end its relationship with the three local stations that did not
comply.

None of those stations, nor the fourth station that is now being
monitored by the company, had any items that might be used as drug
paraphernalia on display Thursday night, and employees at those
mini-marts said the stations no longer sell them.

Manor Market in Lynnwood, which had taken down all but one of its red
and yellow Shell signs as of Thursday, is making arrangements to buy
gas from another company. But owner James Lee called Shell's decision
unfair.

Lee, who has owned the station for a year and a half, said he was
contacted by Shell, but said a language barrier prevented him from
completely understanding the company's request.

Lee moved to the United States from Korea about nine years
ago.

"I am just a small businessman," Lee said.

Lee, who choked up while talking about the impact of losing Shell gas,
also said no one from either anti-drug group had contacted him until
two days ago.

Shell met with representatives of both anti-drug groups in late
November and early December, but was unable to come to an agreement.

Shell's contract with its dealers already prohibits the sale of
offensive material, including drug paraphernalia and pornography,
Smyth said. Shell is planning to check every Shell site in the Seattle
area.

The anti-drug activists opted to start their effort with Shell, saying
Shell stations are some of the most flagrant offenders, but could
expand the effort to other businesses selling these items, York said.

"We are going to take a look at anybody who is doing it," she
said.

The protest at some Shell stations is scheduled for Sunday. Protestors
will meet at 130 p.m. at Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, 6002
168th St. SW and at Mariner High School in Everett, 200 120th Street
SW. They will then go to selected Shell stations.