Nine arrested in $250,000 synthetic drug sting

Chattanooga police arrested nine people Tuesday after a four-month undercover operation investigating area smoke shops for synthetic drugs.

Officers seized about $250,000 of synthetic marijuana, synthetic cocaine, synthetic mushrooms and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Four stores were investigated: Bikers Emporium, 5829 Lee Highway; Pipe One, 6215 Lee Highway; Smoke 1, 2101 McCallie Avenue; and The Smoke Stack, 5012 Highway 58.

Eight of the nine people arrested were each charged with possession of controlled substance analogue for resale. They were:

* Rex Henry, 56, three counts

* Scott Smith, 30, two counts

* Forrest Anez, 29, three counts

* Jose Aguilar, 47, four counts

* Diana Anez, 27, one count

* Ronald Cameron, 40, one count

* Tommy Dean, 41, one count

* Maria Ibarra, 41, one count

* Christopher Wright, 40, was also arrested, but his charges have not yet been listed