Irvine, H.B. men indicted in federal synthetic marijuana case

An Irvine man and two Huntington Beach men were among 16 people indicted this week in a crackdown by federal agents on large-scale makers and distributors of synthetic marijuana commonly called “spice.”

The operation targeted three groups in Orange and Los Angeles counties that authorities say profited from the designer drug, which is typically made by spraying chemicals onto plant leaves that are then smoked or ingested, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

Spice is intended to mimic the high from marijuana and is often sold under names such as “Crazy Monkey” or “Scooby Snax,” according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

“Abuse of these psychoactive substances has resulted in increasing numbers of overdose incidents, emergency room visits and even deaths,” federal officials said in a news release.

Authorities allege that 31-year-old Irvine resident Mohamad Hamade was part of an Orange County-based ring. He was arrested Wednesday.

The two Huntington Beach residents, Ahmad Abu Farie, 54, and his son Mohammad Abu Farie, 25, are suspected of working with a criminal group that focused on the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, according to authorities.

The elder Farie was arrested Wednesday, and his son surrendered Thursday, according to the U.S attorney’s office.

The local crackdown was part of a nationwide operation by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection that arrested 151 people.

Most synthetic drugs are produced in China by “rouge labs” before they’re sold online or through retail outlets in the United States, according to the DEA.

“The synthetic drugs are commonly marked with the disclaimer ‘not for human consumption’ or ‘DEA approved,’ which is an attempt to shield distributors from prosecution,” the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release.

Most of the suspects arrested in Southern California this week were charged with conspiracy to manufacture, to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute controlled substance analogues. If convicted, they could face a 20-year sentence in federal prison, according to prosecutors.