Underage Vaping Operation Leads To Charges At 4 Leesburg Stores: Cops

LEESBURG, VA — An undercover vaping operation led to charges for clerks at four Leesburg stores, the Leesburg Police Department announced. Authorities said the clerks sold tobacco vaping products to underage customers.

The operation included 29 establishments around Leesburg. The following facilities saw clerks sell products to underage customers, according to the police department:

• Sheetz (601 California Drive NE)
• Jock’s Exxon (104 West Market Street)
• Tobacco King and Vape (345 East Market Street)
• Leesburg Tobacco & Vape (707 East Market Street, Suite G)

Authorities said one clerk was 18 years old, while the oldest was 57 years old. Each of the four clerks was issued a summons for violating the Virginia code on selling vape, nicotine, and tobacco products to people younger than 21 years old. The violation is punishable by a civil penalty.

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“Operations like these send a clear message to retail establishments in town, that they are responsible for training their staff to properly follow the law to ensure that age restricted products are only sold to those of legal age,” Leesburg Police Captain David Smith said. “For this reason, the Leesburg Police Department periodically conducts operations relating to the sale of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to underage persons.”

The operation was a joint effort between the Leesburg Police Department School Resource Officer and Special Investigations Units.

More information about vaping use among children is available on the Centers for Disease Control website.