GIFFORD — A grocery store under investigation in Gifford was found to have more than just food for sale.
After a month of investigating, authorities raided the store and found Flakka, cocaine, marijuana and other drugs.
Crosstown Grocery Store, located at 2405 43rd St., was served a search warrant last week by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and K-9 units.
Two men were arrested as a result of the raid. Christopher Miles, 38, and Andrew Jones, 33, both of Gifford, face charges of cocaine sale within 1,000 feet of a church and cocaine possession.
Miles faces additional charges of possession of a controlled substance (Flakka) and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.
Both men are being held at the county jail in lieu of bail. Bond has been set at $81,000 for Miles and $55,000 for Jones.
“These drug dealers chose to operate out of a local grocery store thinking that would protect them from justice,” Sheriff Deryl Loar said in a prepared statement. “Last week we ended their operation and put them behind bars where they belong. We will not tolerate Flakka and so many other dangerous drugs being sold in our community. I commend our detectives who worked so hard to close down this clandestine drug store.”
Authorities seized the following drugs and items from the grocery store during the raid:
- 103.6 grams of MDPV (Flakka)
- 58.9 grams of crack cocaine
- 15.8 grams of powder cocaine
- 21 grams of marijuana
- 29 Citalopram pills
- 34 Diclofenac pills
- 2 MDMA pills (Ecstacy)
- $962 in drug money
- Loaded .380 Smith and Wesson handgun
