From Staff Reports 

Following drug charges filed against the owner, the store managers and employees of Octopus Garden locations around Asheville in late June, conservative activist and former city councilman Carl Mumpower told the Daily Planet he is pleased.

“I am glad to see local and federal authorities holding some of our community’s bad guys accountable,” Mumpower said in a June 27 statement. “I admire their persistency.

“If we can get our citizens, churches and neighborhoods out of their recliners with matching enthusiasm, perhaps we can keep the heat on these local predators.”

Mumpower added, “Synthetic drugs are a toxic attraction to our young, vulnerable and misguided.”

Mumpower, along with Chad Nesbitt, has led a number of protests around Asheville against the sale — by head shops — of synthetic drugs.

Meanwhile, the charges against those working at the seven locations of Octopus Garden were revealed in indictments unsealed June 26 in U.S. District Court.

Octopus Garden’s locations allegedly sold synthetic marijuana under various names, such as “Zeus Gods of Aroma,” “Bizzaro” and “Dead and Berry’d, according to Anne M. Tompkins, who is the U.S. attorney general for the Western District of North Carolina.

The offenses occurred between September 2011 to December 2012 in the counties of Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania, the indictments stated.

A total of 30 persons were charged in the indictment, along with two other indictments and a criminal complaint.

The shops sold synthetic drugs, including synthetic marijuana, which often is called “K2” or “Spice” and/or bath sales, according to court documents.

Thompkins said, “Masking synthetic drugs with creative names and deceptic packaging does not change the fact that these substances are illegal, highly addictive and potentially deadly to those who use them.

“Whether such drugs are sold in Asheville, Spruce Pine or Charlotte, let it be known that the law enforcement community stands united in the fight against these harmful chemicals that wreak havoc in our communities and pose serious health risks and other local and area law enforcement agencies.

Two of those charged on drug offenses also were charged with money laundering, Also, all but two of those arrested were charged with selling or offering to sell drug paraphernalia, such as glass pipes, intended for use in inhaling controlled substances.

Authorities seized more than $700,000 in cash and 247 ounces of silver, four vehicles and drug paraphernalia during the probe, which was handled by the Department of Homeland Security and Drug Enforcement Administration — and area and local law enforcement units.

On a separate matter, the Daily Planet asked Mumpower on his status regarding his vow to leave the Republican Party. “I will leave the Republican Party when they are successful in seizing Asheville’s water system,” Mumpower said June 27. “That remains on hold, so I will wait and see.”