In a disturbing turn of events, criminals in a suburban Long Island town have installed illegal vending machines that sell crack pipes, exploiting a community already struggling with drug abuse issues.
In a quiet Long Island suburb not far from Brooklyn and Queens, New York, criminals have devised a sinister method to distribute destructive drug paraphernalia by installing illegal vending machines that dispense crack pipes. Authorities have discovered that these machines were initially designed to sell tampons but were repurposed to cater to drug addicts and curious individuals alike.
Fortunately, the police have managed to remove three of these crack pipe vending machines from Long Island, thereby preventing easy access to the hazardous drug paraphernalia for the residents.
Suffolk County has been grappling with drug abuse issues for years. The police department’s tireless efforts to combat drug-related problems are often met with frustration as criminals continually devise new tactics, such as repurposing tampon dispensers to sell crack pipes.
These illicit vending machines dispense “Sketch Pens” for a mere two dollars per ceramic tube. The identity of the individuals responsible for installing the machines remains unknown. Drug dealers or unscrupulous entrepreneurs seeking to exploit a market gap may be behind this illegal venture.
The ceramic “pens” provided by the vending machines come equipped with a filter, making it all too easy for users to smoke the dangerous and addictive substance.
Determined to put an end to this alarming issue, the Suffolk County Police Department is investigating the origins of these vending machines found in public restrooms. Brookhaven Town District 4 Councilman Michael Loguercio told The New York Post, “At first we were like, ‘Could this be a joke?’ But then we saw how intricate it was and realized it wasn’t a joke.”
Local residents, longing for the eradication of the drug problem plaguing their community, are astounded by the criminals’ innovation in installing drug paraphernalia vending machines in public restrooms.
Between 2009 and 2013, Suffolk County recorded 337 heroin-related deaths, the highest drug overdose death rate in New York state.
Anthony Minichini, a Suffolk County resident, stumbled upon a crack vending machine near a bus stop and expressed his disbelief, saying, “Wow! You learn something new every day. Suffolk County on the side of the road next to the bus stops a crack pipe vending machine. Really?”
Local government officials share the same sentiment. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine commented, “People that were selling crack, obviously there was trouble from their potential users getting crack pipes, and they thought this would be an ingenious solution.”
With a median home price of $376,700 in Suffolk County, which is more than double the median price for an existing home in the United States, it is surprising to see how easily drug users can purchase these “sketch pens.” In Long Island, these sketch pens are available in vending machines, a chilling reminder of the drug problem that persists in the community
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Source: AWM
