Fentanyl Vapes Warning Spurs Safety Changes at Local Smoke Shops

On Friday, Dec. 5 the Elsa Police Department posted a warning on Facebook about fentanyl laced vape cartridges, setting off immediate action among smoke shops in Jim Wells County. Head Rush Smoke Shop in Alice reported customers arriving with heightened concerns, and owners moved quickly to verify sources and reinforce product checks.

Co owner Erasmo Aguilar said the alert rippled through the local market. "I knew the industry was going to take a hit. In terms of its view of how people would look at it and perceive it," Aguilar said. He described changes at his store that include stricter verification of suppliers, closer inspection of labeling and QR codes, and staff training to help customers spot suspicious products. Aguilar also noted that recent regulation and tariff changes are raising barriers for unregulated imports, making it harder for counterfeit cartridges to enter the U.S. market.

Alice Police narcotics investigators and leaders echoed the concern and urged purchases only from legitimate retailers. Cpl. Homero Mendoza advised caution. "Make sure you're purchasing it from a legit store, not just some black market website. Make sure they're not unregulated or counterfeit. There's a lot of those," Mendoza said. Police say they have not found fentanyl laced vapes in Jim Wells County, but are treating the threat seriously because of the drug's lethality.

Alice Police Chief Eden Garcia stressed the stakes for young people after a recent traffic stop showed minors are using social media to buy vapes. "Fentanyl is something you don't mess with. It's been known to kill people especially our youth. And we surely don't want it in our community and we'll do everything we can to keep it aways," Garcia said.

Beyond enforcement, shop owners are adopting practical safeguards. Staff now show customers how to check QR codes and labels, point out discoloration or loose threading that can indicate tampering, and Head Rush has begun buying fentanyl testing kits to screen suspicious cartridges on site. For Jim Wells County residents, those measures aim to reduce the chance that counterfeit or contaminated products reach consumers, and to preserve trust in local, regulated retailers as national scrutiny of illicit vape products intensifies.