Rankin County law enforcement seized about 2,030 packets of kratom valued at $48,267.12 following an investigation into complaints about the substance being sold in local convenience stores, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
The sheriff’s office said the action followed a March 2024 county board of supervisors ordinance that prohibits the use, purchase, possession, distribution, sale or offering for sale of synthetic cocaine and kratom in unincorporated areas of Rankin County. Deputies hand-delivered copies of the ordinance to all convenience stores after it was passed, the post said.
Investigators conducted undercover purchase attempts and audited all stores in the unincorporated areas, the office said. Store employees who made illegal sales face an ordinance violation punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or six months in the county jail. All kratom products seized will be held as evidence until cases are resolved and then destroyed, the release said.
The sheriff’s office asked residents to report stores selling illegal products at 601-825-1480 and provided the full ordinance and additional county information at www.rankincounty.org. The post also linked to U.S. Food and Drug Administration information on kratom and its risks. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
