Search warrants served at several Fayetteville-area vape shops

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's involvement.

A law enforcement operation in Cumberland County targeted at least half a dozen vape shops in the area beginning Tuesday morning and continuing into Tuesday afternoon.

“I can confirm search warrants were executed for smoke shops in the Fayetteville area. The investigation is ongoing. There is no additional information to be released at this time,” Fayetteville Police Department spokeswoman Rickellle Harrell said.

At 5 p.m., at Exotic Smoke Shop, 5439 Yadkin Road , officers with the Fayetteville and Hope Mills police departments and Cumberland County Sheriff's Office were on scene. At least one person was arrested there and placed into a patrol car.  At about the same time, plain-clothed officers, one of whom was wearing a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency T-shirt marked Cape Fear Task Force, were at Puff & More Vape & Tobacco, at 5447 Yadkin Road.

The DEA referred questions on the raids to the Fayetteville Police Department.

Other vape shops reportedly raided included shops on Ramsey Street, Clinton Road, Legion Road, Bragg Boulevard and in Haymount.

The focus of the investigation was not released.

Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Search warrants served at several Fayetteville-area vape shops