Savannah Police: Two local smoke shops searched, more than 1,000 items seized

According to a statement Wednesday from the Savannah Police Department, a weeks long investigation conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Dangerous Drug Task Force, 24th Judicial Drug Task Force, Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, and city police concluded with the execution of two search warrants in Savannah last week.
Acting upon numerous complaints from residents, detectives with SPD, HCSD, and the 24th DTF began to investigate several local tobacco and cannabidiol distributors.
The statement says the investigation established probable cause that two retailers were potentially selling vapes and/or CBD material that was over the legal limit of .3%.
Over the course of several days, undercover agents purchased products from two local retailers. These products were field tested by the Tennessee Dangerous Drug Task Force and determined to be over the legal limit for retail in Tennessee.
The statement says that on Sept. 19, agents and detectives from the agencies executed search warrants at Smoke Shop Savannah at 235 Water St. and Galaxy Smoke Shop at 1020 Wayne Road. Agents confiscated more than 1,000 items believed to be over the legal limit.
These products were reportedly field tested by the state Dangerous Drug Task Force as being over .3%, with some field testing as high as 96% or 320 times the legal limit.
There were no arrests made at this time, as all of the items have been held for confirmation testing at the TBI Crime Lab.
“It is important to note that until confirmed by the TBI Crime Lab, no criminal charges will be filed. In the event that the confirmation testing reveals levels lower than the legal limit, these seized items will be returned to the retailers and no criminal prosecution pursued,” the Savannah Police Department statement says.