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CRANFORD —Customers of the Krauszer's Food Store on South Avenue could get more than a sandwich or a soda in a visit, police said today when announcing the arrest of three employees.

The workers, arrested on Thursday after a three-month investigation, are accused of selling synthetic marijuana from the store, said Cranford Detective Sgt. Gerard Quinn.

Outlawed in New Jersey since March 2013, synthetic marijuana is natural herbs sprayed with synthetic chemicals to mimic the effects of marijuana.

Quinn said police seized from the store more than 100 packages of suspected synthetic marijuana with a street value of more than $10,000. Authorities also confiscated $8,000 in suspected proceeds from the alleged sales, he said.

Arrested at the store were the owner Prashantk Shah, 48, of the Iselin section of Woodbridge and employees Tusharkum Shah, 53, of Roselle Park, and Bhumikkum Patel, 40, of Parlin.

The Shahs are not related, Quinn said.

Each man was charged with possession of synthetic cannabinoid with intent to distribute, possession of synthetic cannabinoid with intent to distribute in a school zone, and possession of a synthetic cannabinoid over one ounce, Quinn said. He noted the alleged sales occurred less than 1,000 feet from a nearby nursery school and day care facility.

After being processed, the three suspects were released pending a first appearance in Superior Court in Elizabeth, which is scheduled for Wednesday, he said.

Quinn said the investigation began about three months ago when Detective Ryan Greco received information that store employees were selling synthetic marijuana there.

After several undercover and surveillance operations, members of the Cranford Police Department's Investigative Division, assisted by the Union County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit, executed a search warrant at the business on Thursday, Quinn said.

Cranford Police Chief James Wozniak said the drug operation is "an offense against the whole community."

“It violates the public trust when illegal drugs are sold one aisle away from candy and ice cream. We hold our local businesses to a higher standard than that," Wozniak said. "The Cranford Police Department won’t tolerate the distribution of narcotics masquerading as a legitimate business in our town.”

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