Authorities Raid Dozens of St. Louis C-stores

ST. LOUIS — Several convenience stores in the metropolitan area were subjected to federal raids this week.

According to Fox2Now, federal agencies received support from local police departments as they reportedly descended on a number of stores, mostly in north St. Louis County.

Witnesses told the news outlet that law enforcement agents were asking questions about synthetic drug sales and cigarette sales across state lines. 

The Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued this statement: "Federal special agents with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, with additional federal, state and local law enforcement partners, are conducting a law enforcement operation in and around St. Louis on May 23. As this operation involves an ongoing investigation no further details are publicly available at this time."

This multi-jurisdictional task force is targeting c-stores, gas stations, cigarette shops and liquor stores. Authorities told the news outlet that the raids were part of a criminal investigation, not an immigration matter.

Additional reports said that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service were involved in executing warrants during the raids.