EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
A crime lab back log is delaying possible arrests in an Evansville drug investigation.
Two smoke shops that are accused of selling synthetic marijuana were raided by police this weekend, but so far, no arrests have been made.
Police have to make sure what they took is actually an illegal drug. When officers went into the business on Heidelbach Saturday night, they came out with several packets containing what they believe is synthetic marijuana.
Samiy and Austin Wells saw it all go down.
"There was like 12 cop cars," said Samiy Wells.
They say they're not surprised this shop was raided Saturday night. They knew whatever was being sold inside was in high demand.
"There's usually a lot of cars around on this street going in there," Austin said.
"Yeah, they parked in the alley and everything," Samiy said.
"We impounded quite a few individual packets of items we believe will be illegal," said EPD Capt. Andy Chandler.
Police believe the substance inside those packets is synthetic marijuana, known on the streets as K2.
"We don't have the field test to state one way or the other," Chandler said.
That means the substance will have to be analyzed at a state lab. That, police found out, will take four to six weeks. So, unlike most other drug busts where arrests can be made on the spot, officers are forced to wait possibly over a month before any arrest is made.
"It is an on-going problem that we're dealing with," Chandler said.
As more K2 and bath salts busts are made across the state, the items to be tested get added to the already long list at the state lab. Police say a field test for synthetic drugs is being developed, but the drug manufacturers keep finding ways to stay ahead of the game and get around the law.
"Their chemists back at their manufacturing plant would make a little bit of a change to the formula, change the chemical structure enough so they could then legitimately in their eyes say this has now changed," Chandler said.
The business on Heidelbach has been closed since that raid, but there is a sign on the front door that says "Open Wednesday, normal business hours."
We'll continue to update this story.
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Neighborhood residents say they're not surprised this shop was raided Saturday night.
