Spice Arrest in St. Pete Beach is First of Its Kind in Pinellas

The arrest of a St. Pete Beach convenience store clerk on charges of selling K2 or spice, a synthetic marijuana, is the first of its kind by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office since a recent ban was enacted, authorities said Wednesday.

Nadeem Malik, 40, is accused of selling the substances to an undercover narcotics detective on two occasions in January at Sunshine Food and Gifts, 6880 Gulf Blvd.

The substances were later tested and found to contain XLR-11, one of 22 synthetic substances banned by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in an emergency order issued in December.

Malik's arrest is the first by the sheriff's office since the order was issued.

The clerk was arrested Tuesday and reportedly told deputies that he sells the substances at the direction of the store owner, according to a sheriff's office media release.

Malik voluntarily surrendered four large ziplock freezer bags containing different types of "potpurri" items that had been concealed inside a garbage can behind the counter, deputies said.

Among the items surrendered, according to the sheriff's office, were 104 small canisters of the same K2/spice purchase by the undercover detective; 29 additional canisters with a different date and with a disclaimer stating it complied with current legal guidelines; and 122 foil packages containing similar substances. The total approximate value is $2,280.

The substances have been sent for analysis, the sheriff's office said.

Malik was charged with two counts of sale and possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell a controlled substance.

He was released from Pinellas County Jail on Wednesday after posting $34,000 bond, according to online records.

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