Hendersonville police cracking down after seizing several boxes of ‘whippets’
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Concerns have grown about an old drug in a new package, which has gained popularity online.
Hendersonville Police recently seized numerous boxes of "whippets," known more commonly as laughing gas, from a convenience store. Now, there are fears that the dangerous drug has made a comeback.
On Wednesday, Hendersonville police gave News 2 a look at the sheer number of packages seized after a search warrant was conducted on New Shackle Island Market. Each package contained the product "Galaxy Gas."
"You got a smoke shop that is selling culinary supplies. it doesn't take a genius to know what the purpose of selling it is for," explained Detective Lieutenant Christopher Gagnon. "It is obviously for other purposes, and in this particular instance, we were able to determine that purpose was absolutely for inhalants."
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, has typically been used as a sedative to help relieve anxiety and nerves. It essentially slows down the nervous system and induces a sense of calm.
It's been found in the form of "Galaxy Gas" and "whippets." The dispensers are intended to be sold to chefs or baristas as a way for customers to enjoy a common household favorite: whipped cream.
"In this particular case of 'Galaxy Gas,' I mean it's at a convenience store, and we know chefs are not going there and purchasing this culinary product for their whipped cream, we know what they're selling it for," Gagnon said. "They've got it displayed in a brightly labeled package and that points to trying to sell to a younger set of people."
This week, Hendersonville police arrested 25-year-old Omar Alazab . According to the Hendersonville Police Department, a search warrant was conducted at New Shackle Island Market and Smoke Shop in the 200 block of New Shackle Island Road on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Officers reportedly conducted the search after "traffic stops led to arrests connected to the resale of drugs from the market." During a search of the market, police said they found marijuana and numerous Galaxy Gas containers.
"One of our patrol officers did some excellent patrol work that led us down a path to be able to get a search warrant on the convenience store," Gagnon said. "Ultimately, a search of that then revealed they were selling marijuana out of the store as well as some culinary products that they are utilizing for inhalent purposes."
Man accused of selling drugs from Hendersonville market
It's become a concerning trend, especially online and among kids. So much so that a quick search of the company online brought up a warning from the brand letting customers know the product is "sold solely as a food procession propellant for food use only," and that "intentional misuse of inhalation of its content is prohibited and poses a serious health hazard."
"I don't think people understand the danger of it. There's a possibility that it could cause you to go unconscious, there are chances that it causes death," Gagnon said. "Ultimately, what you end up with is kids or young adults going in making a purchase of this stuff to get this quick high and then potentially killing themselves in the process of it."
Gagnon added that he hopes to work with lawmakers during the upcoming legislative session to place more restrictions on how and where these canisters are sold.
