Detroit, MI
Detroit pot delivery drivers targeted amid rise in robberies, carjackings
Marijuana supply drivers focused amid rise in crime
Drivers may have as much as $5,000 of marijuana merchandise with them once they’re making deliveries –and that may make them targets of robberies.
DETROIT (FOX 2) – Drivers may have as much as $5,000 of marijuana merchandise with them once they’re making deliveries –and that may make them targets of robberies.
Ripped off, roughed up and even carjacked – that’s what’s been taking place to your neighborhood reefer supply driver.
The Cannibus Regulatory Company says there’s been 13 thefts of pot merchandise from supply drivers throughout southeast Michigan between December and January.
The robberies occurred in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Westland, Detroit, Ferndale, Hamtramck, and Utica. Some drivers had been even held at gunpoint and assaulted.
“You understand the deliveries, the announcement from the CRA has positively despatched us to the drafting board attempting to determine like how can we accomplish this?” stated Alexandria Weathersby.
Weathersby is from the Home of Zen Marijuana Dispensary. They’re able to launch a supply service however the robberies has them pumping the brakes on that.
“Nobody needs to get shot or get robbed over marijuana,” she stated.
The CRA warned pot entrepreneurs in November that there had been greater than 100 break-ins at weed outlets the previous seven months.
The marijuana enterprise is a multimillion-dollar trade in Michigan and whereas the leisure use of it’s lawful right here, it’s nonetheless unlawful on the federal stage – making most companies money solely.
“It’s a target-rich atmosphere,” stated Ralph Godbee. “It scares me, the protection of the drivers. So from a employee’s security standpoint the trade actually has to try a few of its protocols, as a result of in the event that they don’t, it’s a tragedy ready to occur.”
Godbee is the previous police chief for the Metropolis of Detroit.
“There are some issues that the trade can do to tighten, however the query is, as a result of it’s so profitable proper now – is that simply an appropriate threat for the individuals engaged in that trade?” he stated.
The Cannibus Regulatory Company is reminding these within the marijuana enterprise that they’ve 24 hours to inform each the company, and native regulation enforcement, of any prison exercise together with the theft or lack of marijuana merchandise.