Woman arrested as bongs, meth pipes, cigarettes seized from Rosewater tobacco store
A teenaged tobacco store manager has been arrested after an attempted arson attack led officers to allegedly find meth pipes and bongs for sale.
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The young manager of a Rosewater tobacco shop has been arrested and charged after meth pipes and bongs were allegedly found for sale just hours after an attempted arson attack on the business.
Police and MFS crews were called to a strip of Grand Junction Road business about 2.30am on Monday after reports of a fire.
Initial reports said the premises was on fire but on arrival, fire crews found no blaze.
A search uncovered accelerant on the roof of toilets located next to tobacco shop ASG Smokes and Gifts. The incident is being treated as suspicious.
But as Western District detectives investigated the attempted arson attack, they allegedly found numerous pipes and “equipment used in the administration of drugs” at the business.
Police at the scene told The Advertiser they had arrested the manager, who was led out the back of the shop and into a car nearby on Monday.
The 18-year-old North Adelaide woman has been charged with selling equipment for use or preparation of a controlled drug and money laundering.
She was bailed to appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court next month.
Police at the scene said the alleged illegal merchandise was on display.
Shortly afterwards, officers allegedly seized hundreds of cigarette packs and boxes with other drug paraphernalia and loaded them into police vehicles.
The Advertiser was told by police at the scene some boxes contained bongs and meth pipes.
Investigations into the attempted arson are ongoing and are not linked to the arrest.
The Advertiser understands the business opened only last month.
It is the latest incident of fires at retail premises across Adelaide and the outer suburbs. coming just a day after a suspected arson attack on another tobacco shop in Stonyfell and a Flinders Park real estate business was targeted for the second day in a row.
At least 11 arson attacks have been linked to the sale of illicit tobacco over the past few months.
And it’s thought an ASG Smokes and Gifts in Brooklyn Park was last month the intended target of an arson attack on a nearby business.
Last month, police said they were investigating whether up to eight arson attacks across the city were linked to the lucrative illicit tobacco trade.
The row of shops that front Grand Junction Rd include the gifts and smokes accessories store, a hair dresser, the Grand Health Medical Centre and a pharmacy.
In another fire incident, police are investigating a blaze at an Elizabeth Downs property.
Emergency services were called to McKenzie Rd just after midnight to find the dwelling and shed fully ablaze.
Police said the home was unoccupied at the time and there were no injuries.
It’s not suggested that anyone involved in the other businesses or premises is acting unlawfully.
Anyone with information on any of the incidents should report them to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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