Maple Grove Man Charged with Selling Illegal Synthetic Stimulant

A Maple Grove man has been charged with selling illegal synthetic drugs while working at a downtown Minneapolis smoke shop.

Sulaiman Asaad Hamouda, 34, is facing a felony charge of fourth-degree drug sales, a felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by Minneapolis Police Officer Chao Lee, an undercover officer investigating the sale of illegal stimulants on May 17 was informed that a stimulant labeled “Déjà vu Organic French Vanilla” was being sold at Infinity Smokes in downtown Minneapolis.

The officer went to the store and spoke to Hamouda, who was working behind the counter. He asked Hamouda if he could buy “Deja Vanilla.”

Hamouda replied, “OK, but don’t talk,” according to the complaint.

The officer handed Hamouda some bills with recorded serial numbers, and Hamouda gave him a packet labeled “Déjà vu Organic French Vanilla,” the complaint says. The contents of the package tested positive for mephedrone "4-methylmethcathinone" - which is considered a controlled substance, according to the compliant.

Police subsequently executed a search warrant, arrested Hamouda and found “numerous” additional packets of illegal synthetic stimulants, according to Lee’s account.

Hamouda told police that he knew the substance he sold to the officer was illegal, according to the complaint.

Hamouda is free on a $5,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled June 28 in Hennepin County District Court.