Daytona Beach police target business owners selling drugs

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach police said they’re going after business owners who allow drugs to be sold on their property.

Investigators announced Thursday afternoon that they’ve arrested 27 people and are searching for another 26 as part of “Operation Kick-off Returns,” which targets low-level drug dealers.

Police highlighted four businesses they said are allowing drugs to be sold on their property. At least one owner was selling drugs, police said.

Police said the dealers are selling everything from marijuana to cocaine to spice.

Investigators specifically named J’s Food Mart on Ridgewood Avenue, the Orange Avenue Mini Mart, a Citgo gas station at 780 Mason Avenue and the Friendly Mart as places where drugs were constantly being sold.

Police said the owners do little to stop it.

“These locations are documented as being problem area,” said Daytona Beach police Chief Craig Capri. “Several of them have excessive fines as we speak.”

Capri said he plans to use code enforcement to go after the businesses. Some of the businesses could even be hit with fines for excessive police services.

“My police officers don’t need to be tied up with calls dealing with these business owners,” Capri said.

Police did a similar drug bust operation in January and said they plan to do another by the end of the year.

Cox Media Group