HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT \uFEFFA drug K-9 deputy checked out two vehicles in the parking lot of Precious Slut. The dog did not alert on any customer vehicles. The K-9 at the Ghetto Mart also did not find any evidence of controlled substances. HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT \uFEFFDiverse items were seized from the Ghetto Mart on Wednesday. This box contains pipes and various containers that open to reveal compartments which could contain controlled substances and small pipes or plain tobacco as well as several types of products containing salvia divinorum, a powerful mood enhancer. Advertisement

In a coordinated effort by Nye County Sheriff's Office, two businesses were simultaneously served search warrants Wednesday afternoon for allegedly selling drug-related items.

Precious Slut, the tattoo and piercing shop located in the colorful building on East Calvada Boulevard, and the Ghetto Mart Smok'n Parts on Pahrump Valley Boulevard near the corner of Highway 372 were raided about 1:40 p.m.

The sheriff's Street Crime and SWAT units, along with patrol and general assignment deputies joined with the SCORPION Task Force and K-9 teams to sweep into both businesses.

At the Ghetto Mart, Det. David Boruchowitz explained on two recent occasions, the sheriff's office sent undercover personnel into the shop, asking a sales clerk for a pipe to smoke marijuana. The person was shown a case of pipes.

A similar undercover operation occurred at Precious Slut.

After briefing the law enforcement contingent a few blocks from the shops, two teams were formed and deployed.

Each team entered its target in force, securing the area and using drug-sniffing dogs. It did not appear the dogs alerted their handlers to any controlled substances during the searches.

The team next confiscated boxes of pipes of all types, made of glass, plastic, wood and metal which could be used to smoke marijuana or other substances, including tobacco.

At the Ghetto Mart, packets containing Purple Party Pills, which are not listed as controlled substances, were confiscated along with various objects that could be used as stash boxes or pouches to carry concealed drugs and pipes.

The purple capsules contain salvia divinorum, a powerful mood enhancer that according to a Street Crimes detective is "a popular way for kids to get high."

The packets sell from $29 to $59, and there appeared to be just one pill per packet.

The detective urged parents to look up salvia on Google and other Web sites to view videos teens are posting online to see the danger their children are exposing themselves to with the purple pills.

The owners of the stores were not present when the sweep of their premises occurred; however, James Gallagher, the owner of Ghetto Mart, was alerted and showed up within minutes.

He was given the search warrant signed by Justice of the Peace Tina Brisebill authorizing the search, but he was not allowed into his store, nor could he speak to the employees who were inside until the search was concluded.

A deputy took Gallagher's driver's license to run through a background check while he sat in his car, watching his merchandise being sealed in boxes and taken away.

Gallagher said his sister, who usually runs the store during the hours he is off, was on vacation and a new employee had started work just five days earlier.

He said the new employee had not been thoroughly trained in all aspects of dealing with customers who ask about items that could be used with controlled substances.

Gallagher took responsibility for that, also saying the items in his store were sold for use with loose tobacco, which he sells in pound bags.

No arrests were made at the Ghetto Mart, but at Precious Slut, one underage boy was detained.

Charges were not immediately brought against either owner or employees. After items were confiscated, both stores were open for business.

Gallagher said the party already scheduled for Sunday is still on. There will be live music and all items of clothing will be marked down by 40 percent.