Indiana County DA Robert Manzi announced a targeted enforcement effort started yesterday aimed at various stores in Indiana County selling illegal items containing nitrous oxide.
(The nitrous oxide seized in the first round of enforcement efforts to get it out of stores. Photo courtesy Indiana County DA Robert Manzi)
The chemical, known commonly as “laughing gas” in the medical community, is being used as an illegal inhalant called a “whippet”. While it can be sold for medical and culinary purposes, vape stores in our area have been selling the product in large quantities. Manzi said on top of the fact that it is not legally allowed to be sold for intoxication purposes, there has been a large increase in the number of deaths due to the use of nitrous oxide, including an increase of 500% reported by the University of Mississippi.
Yesterday, undercover purchases of nitrous oxide were conducted at stores in Indiana and Blairsville Boroughs and in Center Township. When the sale was complete, all the nitrous oxide was seized. This was part of Operation Rocco named after an Indiana County young adult who died due to using nitrous. Manzi added that anyone selling nitrous in vape or pop-up stores will see charges field and their inventory seized.
He added that the gas is being sold as a safe alternative to get high and it is being made available to children.
Charges are expected to be filed in the first round of seizures in the coming days.
You can listen to the interview in the player below.
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