Heads rolled in an Oakland convenience store as police stumbled upon a treasure trove of illicit substances during a crackdown on underage sales of tobacco and cannabis products. The bust, which occurred smack in the heart of the 3300 block of MacArthur Boulevard, came after local residents raised the alarm about the store's shady dealings, prompting the Oakland Police Department Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco (ABAT) Unit to jump into action on March 27.

The tip-off led officers to a cornucopia of contraband – psychedelic mushrooms, weed, and a multitude of THC-laden goodies, from munchable edibles to inhalable vapes and dabbable wax – all laid bare on the shelves for any takers, including kids, the investigation by the ABAT Unit, shared in a statement, revealed the lack of necessary permits from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the City of Oakland, a loaded gun was also in the mix, seized amid the sweep.

With OPD zeroing in on this front to protect Oakland's younger citizens, they're calling on store owners to wise up about the dire consequences of illicit sales, particularly the flavors designed to hook the underage. Enforcement operations are ongoing, but the crux of the matter swings on community cooperation to report greedy purveyors of nicotine and THC to the young. Trouble to the hotline is made easy at (510) 777-8677.