Officers from the Indiana State Excise Police and Peru Police Department arrested a convenience store owner on several drug-related charges today.
Officers with the Indiana State Excise Police and Peru Police Department served a search warrant at Peru Stop & Go, 452 W. Main Street, Peru, today looking for evidence related to the sale of counterfeit goods. What turned into a four-month investigation into counterfeit goods and drug sales began when officers saw what appeared to be counterfeit merchandise in the store in Nov. 2013.
Officers seized approximately 20 grams of suspected synthetic marijuana, hundreds of items of paraphernalia and an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency from the BP-branded store today.
Officers also searched a residence at 6 N. Holman in Peru, where they also seized more suspected synthetic marijuana and an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency.
As a result of this investigation, store owner Amin Ali Saleh, 36, of Peru, was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Synthetic Marijuana, Possession of Lookalike Substance, Dealing in Synthetic Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Officers are continuing their investigation into possible counterfeiting and forgery.
Anyone with information concerning violations of Indiana law anywhere that alcohol or tobacco products are sold should contact the State Excise Police at (765) 362-8815.
Officers were assisted by Miami County Prosecutor Bruce Embrey throughout their investigation.
As the enforcement division of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, the primary mission of the Indiana State Excise Police is to promote public safety by enforcing Indiana’s Alcoholic Beverage Code. While excise officers have the authority to enforce any state law, they focus primarily on alcohol, tobacco and related laws.
