Police arrest 40, seize drugs and guns in massive Atlanta warehouse raid

ATLANTA — Atlanta police say 40 people are behind bars after officers busted what they described as a drug “pop-up event” at a warehouse off Ted Turner Drive.

Police said the operation, dubbed “Operation No Smoke,” targeted vendors who were trying to sell drugs out of the warehouse. Authorities said officers with the narcotics unit took down the operation with about an hour’s notice, finding dozens of tents and vendors inside.

Lt. Greg Smith, head of the Atlanta Police Department’s narcotics unit, said some of the drugs seized appeared to be disguised in ways that could target children.

“They have marijuana, sometimes fentanyl, inside of the dolls that kids can play with. We also have packaging material that looks like Skittles; but they could be ecstasy pills,” Smith said.

Deputy Police Chief Prenzinna Spann also described how some of the drugs were packaged.

“Some of them were in Skittles bags, some of them looked like Rice Krispy Treats, some of them looked like candy bars, 29 pounds of mushrooms,” Spann said.

Police said they seized more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana, 391 pounds of THC edibles, 29 pounds of mushrooms, along with cash and 15 guns.

“There was 1,200 pounds of raw marijuana, 391 pounds of THC edibles, 29 pounds of mushrooms, and we were able to recover 15 guns and we locked up 40 people,” Smith said.

Investigators said vendors scattered as officers arrived, throwing weapons, jumping fences and running from the scene.

The Atlanta Police Department said its narcotics unit cleared the warehouse and secured the scene within about two hours.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the department targets drug operations because of their connection to violent crime.

“We attacked the things that we know that if untouched by law enforcement will breed violence in our city,” Schierbaum said. “It’s illegal in our city, its illegal in our state, the wholesale distribution of it leads to violence. People are eventually either come for the products or the proceeds.”

Officials said the investigation remains ongoing.