Daytona Beach police crack down on drug users, dealers

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Daytona Beach police are cracking down on drug dealers and the people who turn a blind eye to drug dealing, in Operation Kick Off Return 2017.

"Most of your property crimes, your car breaks, your auto thefts are a result of the drug trade," Chief Craig Capri of the Daytona Beach Police Department, said.

During the last three months, several law enforcement agencies identified 53 people and arrested 27, who they said were selling heroin, crack cocaine and fentanyl. But, it's not just drug dealers who are plaguing the city. Capri said about 90 percent of the drug transactions are happening at four local convenience stores:

J's Food Mart on 600 N Ridgewood Ave.
Friendly Mart on 2259 S Ridgewood Ave.
Orange Avenue Mini Market on 709 Orange Ave.
Citgo on 580 Mason Avenue

"If the word on the street is to go there, it's accepted that you can do your business there. We got to stop it," Capri said.

On Thursday, police arrested the owner of Friendly Mart, Mohammed Morshed. Police said he's accused of selling synthetic marijuana and letting drug deals take place at his business. Authorities said they'll be targeting all four businesses by hitting them in their pocketbooks.

"It is your problem and we're going to hold you accountable and we're going to go after your properties and we're going to shut you down. Our community doesn't deserve it, our citizens don't deserve it and I'll be damned if we're going to let this happen here," Capri said.