Florida deputies crack down on illegal vape sales to minors

Florida Deputies Crack Down on Illegal Vape Sales to Minors

April 15, 2024

VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL — The Volusia Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the East Volusia Narcotics Task Force, has launched a proactive enforcement operation in response to reports of juveniles obtaining nicotine and THC vapes from local smoke shops. An undercover deputy, under the age of 21, visited 17 retail locations across Daytona Beach, Edgewater, Holly Hill, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, and Port Orange, aiming to purchase nicotine vape products.

During the operation, 9 out of the 17 stores sold nicotine vapes to the undercover deputy without verifying age or requesting identification. The stores found in violation include Edgewater Smoke Shop, Pumpernickel Pops NSB, Puff N’ Stuff Smoke Shop, Mellow Life Smoke Shop, Greenaid Smoke Shop, Nova Smoke Shop, Spark Tobacco and Vape, Jaguar Smoke & Vape II, and Hywaze.

The Sheriff’s Office has noted that several other stores complied with the law by either asking for ID or refusing the sale. Some locations checked do not sell vape products directly to consumers or only operate as wholesalers. The operation highlights ongoing efforts to prevent underage access to vape products in the community.

Shore News Network

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.