A Wisconsin man has been arrested for running a counterfeit factory of fake cartridges loaded with THC
Falsifying vaping cartridges. Tyler Huffhines, 20, has been arrested for running a counterfeit operation of vaping cartridges filled with THC for two years, in which another 10 people intervened.
Public opinion is very concerned about this issue after the outbreak of serious lung diseases related to the vaping that goes through the country and that it was suspected that fakes were the cause. In our article “What is behind lung diseases for vaping cannabis?” We already explained that counterfeits could be the cause of this sudden outbreak that has already caused six deaths and hundreds of hospitalized people.
Kenosha County prosecutors have said Tyler Huffhines forced his employees to falsify professionally packaged cartridges. Authorities have stated that employees filled between 3,000 and 5,000 cartridges per day that sold for $ 16 each.
Andrew Burgoyne, Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney, said during a court hearing Monday to establish bail, which has been a very high-tech operation that has been going on for some time. According to police, the fakes began in January 2018.
Police arrested Huffhines on Thursday. When he was arrested he had to pay $ 500,000 in cash as bail. You are currently waiting for charges to be filed. The defendant has to appear in court on Friday. His lawyer, Mark Richards, has not responded to an email sent to his office. The Drug Control Administration, the Kenosha Drug Operations Group and other agencies executed search warrants in two houses. The media have reported that the authorities seized 188 pounds (85 kilograms) of marijuana, THC oil, eight firearms and more than $ 20,000 in cash.
The arrest has occurred at a time when health officials investigate 450 possible cases in 33 states where vaping was related to a serious lung disease. Kansas reported its first death linked to the outbreak of lung diseases associated with cannabis vaping on Friday. Six people have already died throughout the country. Health officials insist that counterfeit vaping cartridges should not be purchased. It is not yet known if the Wisconsin operation has been linked to any disease.
New York State is investigating an ingredient called vitamin E acetate, which has been used to thicken cannabis vapor juice but is dangerous when heated and inhaled. For their part, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are also investigating vitamin E acetate and other ingredients. The CDC has specifically warned against the purchase of counterfeit vaping products because the substances they contain are unknown.
Huffhines was already known because when he was 18 and a Central High School student, he sold sports shoes online and a magazine wrote an article about him called “Who wants to be a millionaire?”
