Officials clean up bath salt business

MATHEWS, Va. (WAVY) - The Mathews County Sheriff's Office is searching for the man they say sold bath salts to undercover drug agents in a convenience store parking lot in March.

According to police, George Wayne Sharpe, Jr., 26, of Mathews, is facing two felony charges for distribution of a Schedule 1 substance.

Sheriff Danny Howlett showed the confiscated bath salts exclusively to 10 On Your Side Thursday.

Howlett said Tri-Rivers Drug Task Force agents have known about illegal bath salts for several years, but had never seen them on the streets until this bust.

"Bath salts can lead to death and mental and physical damage," Howlett said. "It is a very dangerous chemical. It's a Schedule 1 and it has no use other than as an illegal drug."

The sheriff's office said illegal bath salts contain a synthetic stimulant known as mephedrone, or 4-methylmethcathinone, that gives a high similar to that of cocaine.

Howlett said Sharpe appears to have fled Mathews County. Police are asking anyone with information to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.