A joint undercover operation conducted by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco checked 14 smoke shops across Flagler County for compliance with laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco, nicotine, and hemp products to minors. Thirteen of the businesses passed. One did not.
An employee at R.A. Royal Smokers in Bunnell received a notice to appear issued by ABT for selling a nicotine product or device to a person under 21 years of age. The other 13 businesses checked during the operation were found to comply with underage smoking regulations.
The operation was carried out by the FCSO Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit and Criminal Intelligence Unit, working alongside Florida ABT agents.
Sheriff Rick Staly emphasized the importance of continuing these types of operations. “Too many young children are becoming addicted to easy-to-acquire nicotine vaping devices,” Staly said. “Multi-agency undercover operations, like this, protect children from the harmful effects of tobacco and hemp and will continue with our partners.”
