After a months-long investigation, local law enforcement arrested three men late last week on charges related to selling synthetic drugs out of Katie’s Kwik Mart in Leesburg. According to a Warsaw Police Department press report, last week Kosciusko County law enforcement culminated several months of investigation into the sale of synthetic drugs after local law enforcement and the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office received complaints of a Leesburg convenience store selling look-a-like drugs. A tip during a recent drug arrest led police to set up controlled purchases from Katie’s Kwik Mart, 101 S. Main St., Leesburg. Purchased was a substance known as “iBLOWN,” packaged to look like an iPod, which has tested positive as an illegal synthetic drug, according to the press release. Police also served search warrants at the convenience store and at a Leesburg residence and recovered 278 packets of what is believed to be synthetic drugs. The in-store surveillance equipment was confiscated and is being examined for further drug activity, the release states. On Thursday, Warsaw Police arrested Baljinder Singh, 23, and Pinka Singh, 29, both of 205 W. Plum St., Leesburg, for dealing in a look-a-like substance and corrupt business influence, both Class C felonies. Both men were clerks at Katie’s Kwik Mart and both men were held on $2,000 bond. Warsaw Police also arrested the owner of the convenience store, Surjit Singh, 39, Elkhart, on Friday. He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail for dealing in a look-a-like substance and corrupt business influence and was held at the Kosciusko County Jail on a $50,000 bond. All three men are not related. According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, a Warsaw police officer met with a confidential informant Feb. 11 who advised that he/she had arranged to purchase synthetic drugs from Katie’s Kwik Mart. The officer attached an audio recorder and transmitter to the informer and provided him/her with $440 to purchase the synthetic drugs with. The informant reportedly entered the store and returned to the patrol vehicle with 29 packages of “iBLOWN.” Each package contained approximately 4 grams of the drug. The informant told the officer that he/she gave the cashier – later identified as Baljinder Singh – $440 in exchange for the look-a-like substance. After further investigation, police obtained a search warrant for both Katie’s Kwik Mart and 205 W. Plum St., Apt. A, Leesburg. Upon searching the Kwik Mart, officers found both Pinka and Baljinder Singh inside, a leather jacket containing four packages of “iBLOWN” and a black case containing 31 packages of the substance. Officers also found the cash paid for the undercover purchase in the cash register. Further, in the kitchen next to the freezer, police found 16 packages of “Scooby Snacks” synthetic drug. Upon searching the Plum Street apartment, police found 167 packages of “iBLOWN” and Pinka Singh’s identification card. Officers later spoke to Baljinder Singh who said he and Pinka Singh sell the drugs and keep only about 25 packages at the Kwik Mart and the rest at home. He stated that when they run out, they would go to their shared residence and bring more drugs back to the Kwik Mart. Further, Baljinder said they work for the owner, Surjit Singh, who brings the synthetic drug in boxes to their residence and picks up money from the drug sales once a week. Surjit Singh corroborated the story. Warsaw Police were assisted in their investigation by the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, the Kosciusko County Centralized Drug Enforcement unit and the Indiana State Police.
