Crime & Public Safety
Shelby County task force raids Memphis distributor, seizes nearly 30,000 kratom packages
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force announced a multi-site enforcement action in Shelby County that resulted in the seizure of nearly 30,000 packages of alleged illegal synthetic kratom products. Agents identified a Memphis wholesale location operating as Novelty King as an alleged major supplier and executed a raid there; investigators also conducted a search at a related Novelty King location in Collierville during the same operation.
According to the announcing agencies, the Memphis warehouse was the primary target and agents confiscated almost 30,000 packages during the Thursday operation. At the Collierville location, investigators reportedly seized approximately 30 cases of suspected synthetic kratom pills. Random samples from the seizure were submitted to a TBI crime lab for chemical analysis to determine exact contents and adulterants.
Agencies involved included the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, the 25th and 26th Judicial District Drug Task Forces, the Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force, the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Tennessee Counterdrug Task Force, and the DEA’s Memphis bureau, with collaboration from the 26th District Attorney General. No arrests were made at the Memphis warehouse on the day of the raids.
Officials characterized the seized products as synthetic or chemically manipulated kratom and noted recent changes in Tennessee law that make certain possession and sales unlawful. The investigation remains active pending lab results and further prosecutorial review.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.