KENOSHA COUNTY, WI — As health officials grapple with vaping-related medical issues and deaths across the U.S., authorities in southeastern Wisconsin say they've made the largest vaping drug bust in the country.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said investigators seized more than 30,000 vape cartridges filled with THC, about 98,000 empty vape cartridges, and a host of other manufacturing products such as money-counting machines, drug paraphernalia and packaging. The big bust, though, was seizing 57 mason canning jars — about 7 gallons — filled with THC oil. Each jar was worth about $6,000, authorities said.

In a press conference held Wednesday, Waukesha police and the Kenosha County Sheriff's office say they've arrested siblings Tyler, 20, and Jacob Huffhines, 23, for operating a "high-tech drug operation" out of a Kenosha County apartment. Jacob and Tyler Huffines (Kenosha County Jail booking photos) It all started because a Waukesha County mother talked to police about her son's THC vaping, authorities said.



Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann said concerned parents came into their department in July with their high-school-aged son to talk about his role in distributing THC vape cartridges.

Baumann said this opening allowed investigators to infiltrate a drug-distribution network that found its way into all of the Waukesha County high schools and south into Kenosha County. Baumann said investigators worked five tiers up into the operation before being led to Tyler and Jacob Huffhines.

"If it wasn't for these parents holding their son accountable, we wouldn't be here today," Baumann said.

It's not known yet how far the THC vape distribution network went, authorities said.

31,200 illegal THC cartridges like these discovered at home in Bristol by Kenosha Co. Sheriff's Dept. It's still unclear how many have been distributed by the accused and where. @fox6now pic.twitter.com/BbUqUsKCLH

— Hannah Jewell (@HannahFOX6Now) September 11, 2019 Beth said the Huffhines based their operation in Bristol. They would hire people for $20 an hour to fill syringes with THC oil, and inject them into vaping cartridges. The cartridges were then packaged in colorful boxes that would appeal to teens, Beth said.

The dosing levels, Beth said, were deadly. On the back of each package, it says it has THC in a very small amount, only five milligrams," he said. "They had about 1,000 milligrams. So it's about 157 times the potency of what the labeling says."