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The Atlanta Police Department Narcotics Unit arrested 40 people and recovered more than a thousand pounds of marijuana, other drugs, and guns during a “pop-up event” in Downtown Atlanta on April 18.
The pop-up was organized by drug dealers from 11 states with 24 different vendors at an event space at 275 Ted Turner Drive and advertised on social media, according to APD.
Lt. Jason Smith said when officers arrived on the scene on Saturday afternoon, 18 customers were already lined up to get inside the event. Vendors barricaded the doors, while some fled out a back entrance.
“More than 70 people ran from the location – jumping on roofs, running on the railroad tracks, and throwing guns and bags of raw marijuana and gummies,” Smith said. “It was a very chaotic scene.”
“Operation No Smoke” netted 1,200 pounds of raw marijuana, 391 pounds of edibles, 29 pounds of mushrooms, as well as undisclosed amounts of fentanyl and ecstasy. Smith said some of the drugs were packaged as Skittles candy, Rice Krispies Treats, and inside doll heads.
Smith said 40 people went to jail following the raid and are facing numerous charges.
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Collin Kelley is the executive editor of Atlanta Intown, Georgia Voice, and the Rough Draft newsletter. He has been a journalist for nearly four decades and is also an award-winning poet and novelist. More by Collin Kelley
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