Triangle Food Store set to reopen following liquid marijuana bust

The Triangle Food Store at the intersection of Paul Maillard and River roads in Luling will reopen soon under the name Luling Discount. The store closed two months ago following the arrests of the former owner and manager for selling liquid marijuana.

“We are working on the licenses,” Abdul al Mayahi, who is leasing the store, said. “We will open in the next few days, God willing.”

Mayahi said they were expecting to get inspections from the local fire marshal as of Monday, and that he was traveling to Baton Rouge for the health inspection licenses for food service.

Under the new owner, the store will serve various types of fried seafood and shrimp po-boys, according to Mayahi.As of last Friday, a flag reading “for sale” continued to hang on the outside of the building.

“We are in America, everything is for sale when the price is right,” Mayahi laughs.

Building co-owners Hoa T. Nguyen and Tai Tan Nguyen were arrested in September after they were caught selling liquid marijuana during an undercover operation, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Pat Yoes said that this was the first time investigators had seen the substance in St. Charles Parish.

The business has been closed since.

The pair were caught after an anonymous tip caused the Sheriff’s Office to send undercover agents into the store. The agents, on three separate occasions, purchased “strawberry spade oil” from both Hao and Tai Tan. Later analysis of the oil showed it to be a liquid synthetic cannabinoid, the Sheriff’s Office said.

A subsequent search of the building turned up 23 more bottles of liquid marijuana.

Yoes said the oil was sold in conjunction with a vaporizer, known commonly as an electronic cigarette. Because of the manner in which it is ingested, the liquid marijuana carries a higher risk of overdose and can cause hallucinations, seizures and psychosis.

The Nguyens are still awaiting trial.

 

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