Fayetteville smoke shops part of multi-state raid

Two smoke shops in Fayetteville were raided recently, part of a multi-state sweep that originated in Mississippi.

Posted 6:59 p.m. Jan 30, 2023 — Updated 6:59 p.m. Jan 30, 2023

Gilbert Baez

, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

Two smoke shops in Fayetteville were raided recently, part of a multi-state sweep that originated in Mississippi.

Agents with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency found products that were falsely labeled as CBD, the chemical found in marijuana, at two locations of The Candy Shop – on Grove Street and Cliffdale Road.

They seized:

6,000 units of synthetic cannabis falsely labeled as CBD
500 doses of substances suspected to contain synthetic cannabis
1,000 units of homemade edibles suspected of containing synthetic cannabis
about $2 million cash

The owner of those stores, Robert Deming III, is a city councilman in Biloxi, Miss., with stories both there and in North Carolina.

On Thursday, the Mississippi DEA took out a warrant to search Deming's home. They also raided his stores in Mississippi. Investigators say the bust was part of an 18-month investigation after complaints from customers who said the products were making them sick. Several people, including children, had to go to the hospital.

Deming, who was not home at the time of the raid, is not charged with any crime.

Both Fayetteville Candy Shop stores remained open on Monday.

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