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8,000 Packs of Fake Pot, Viagra and African Drug Seized During Harlem Raid

 Police found 8,000 packs of synthetic marijuana during a raid on Thursday.
Synthetic Marijuana
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HARLEM — More than 8,000 packs of synthetic marijuana, black market Viagra and a batch of narcotic African plants were seized by police and health officials from two bodegas during a neighborhood-wide raid last week, authorities said.

Investigators hit five bodegas that had previously been served with Commissioner’s Orders by the Health Department directing them to stop selling the fake pot.

At Gourmet Deli in 304 Lenox Ave., officers found 1,380 packs of synthetic marijuana, Viagra pills and an illegal plant called khat, according to the police.

Chewing khat is popular in East African countries for inducing euphoria, increased alertness and arousal for anywhere between 90 minutes and 24 hours. At the end of the session people experience depression, irritability, loss of appetite and have difficulty sleeping, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

City officials have been cracking down on synthetic marijuana since April, when 120 people throughout the city were hospitalized for synthetic marijuana-related incidents.

At least one person was arrested during the raid, according to witnesses, but police have not released any names.

“I was crossing the street to head to the subway and all of a sudden police cruisers and cars just all descended on this place,” said Gail Tweedy, who had been shopping at Marshall's. “When I was walking by there was one guy that came out in handcuffs that was put into a police car. It kind of all happened very fast.”

At Harlem Deli on 63 East 125th St., officers found 6,550 packs of the synthetic drug, according to police.

When asked about the raid Monday, an employee at the deli claimed not to know that selling synthetic marijuana is against the law, saying "It's illegal to sell that?"

The employee, who declined to give his name, sold four loose cigarettes, which is illegal, for $2 to a customer minutes before the reporter asked about the synthetic marijuana.

Selling the drug is a violation that results in a ticket but violating the Commissioner’s Order elevates the offense to a misdemeanor, according to the Health Department.

Department of Finance officials also participated in Thursday’s raid. They found three bodegas — 403 East 118th St., 108 East 126th St., and 2425 Second Ave. — selling loose and untaxed cigarettes, sources said.