BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – A Bedford County bust at two drug pop-ups yielded more than $3 million in illegal drugs and 13 guns, according to the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the seizure happened on May 4 at two locations, one in the 2800 block of Chestnut Fork Rd and the other in the 1200 block of Rock Cliff Rd.
Deputies described a pop-up as a temporary table or booth set up to sell illegal drugs, guns and other illicit items.
“Drug dealers will come into your city, county or town and they will just come in for a certain time, then they will come in and leave. They pop up, it’s temporary,” said Sheriff Mike Miller.
While marijuana is legal in Virginia, the sheer amount founds shows this was a larger drug operation, bringing the product in from out-of-state.
There are also dangers with purchasing marijuana and other drugs from pop up shops.
“You have no idea what it’s laced with. Even if it is laced or not laced. Their job, the drug dealer, what we’re told, is to make sure that it has the highest potency, because they want repeat customers,” said Sheriff Miller.
Here’s a look at what was seized at the pop-up located in the 2800 block of Chestnut Fork Rd., according to the sheriff’s office:
- 2 Firearms
- 77.5 lbs. of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $316,260
- 101 lbs. of THC wax, with an estimated street value of $1.8 million
- 8.6 lbs. of psilocybin mushrooms, with an estimated street value of $156,000
- 1.5 pounds of THC oil, with an estimated street value of $28,741
- 35 grams of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $3,640
The following items were seized from the second pop-up location, which was in the 1200 block of Rock Cliff Rd:
- 11 Firearms
- 56.3 lbs. of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $230,184
- 39.8 lbs. of THC wax, with an estimated street value of $741,075, along with numerous vapes and edibles containing THC
Bedford County isn’t the only place seeing these kinds of pop up shops.
There have been similar busts across Virginia in Fredericksburg, Newport News and Portsmouth.
The key to shutting pop ups down is people speaking out.
“That’s how we got these two pop ups, the community stepping up and saying I don’t want this in my county or in my community,” said Sheriff Miller.
Charges are pending against multiple individuals, pending consultation with the Bedford Commonwealth’s Attorney, authorities said.