Detroit police crack down on sale of drug paraphernalia

Chief of police shuts down gas station on Detroit's east side

DETROIT – The chief of police delivered the paperwork himself and shut down a gas station at Eight Mile Road and John R Street on Detroit's east side.

It's the beginning of a city wide crackdown on gas stations and convenience stores that sell drug paraphernalia.

Vice officers said they found items specific to heroin use and crack cocaine use. They're partnering with the city building department to move in and shut the stores down within 24 hours.

The hope is the inconvenience and lost dollars will force store owners to pull the stuff from the shelves.

The owner of the Sunoco the police targeted was stunned when Chief James Craig rolled into the store with the paperwork to shut him down.

Mike Ajami got into a confrontation with the chief, demanding to know why he was being shuttered.

It didn't deter the chief who told him he was a bad neighbor and to stop selling drug paraphernalia.

"I say be a good neighbor," Craig said. Being a neighbor is you don't contribute to the concern in the neighborhood. People who live in this neighborhood do not appreciate narcotic paraphernalia being sold in a place they want to come and get what they need."


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