Law enforcement agencies issue alert on disguised illicit substances marketed using emojis on social networking platforms. An overview of emojis linked to drugs:
Law enforcement officials in various regions are growing concerned about the use of emojis as coded language for illicit drug sales on social media websites. In an incident involving edibles, which sickened several students at Cabrillo High School in Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, authorities have issued a warning about the potential dangers.
Through an investigation into the case, officials discovered that an adult, Flor Yudith Zamora, 21, of Lompoc, was using an Instagram account named "malas.smokez" to sell drugs like cannabis, psilocybin, nicotine, codeine, and alcohol to minors. Emojis were used in the conversations about payments and the sale of drugs, a common practice among online drug dealers, according to authorities.
Zamora had transactions and discussions about the products through services like Zelle and Cash App, which facilitate peer-to-peer payments. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has investigated over 80 cases involving drug trafficking on internet apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube. The drugs were typically advertised on these platforms and were then discussed and bought through encrypted messaging apps.
Officials from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office urge parents to monitor their children's social media activities for any suspicious behavior or unknown contacts. They advise discussing the risks of illegal drug activity and engaging with unknown individuals online. Anyone with relevant information for this case is asked to contact the sheriff's Cannabis Compliance Team.
Emojis like 🍁, 🌲, 🍀, 😮💨, 🔥, ❄️, 🌨️, ⛄️, 🎱, 🔑, 😛, 🐡, 🤎, 🐉, 💉, 🎯, 🐎, 🍬, ❌, 💊, ❤️, 😤, ⚡️, 🍄, 🔮, 💙, 💎, 🧪, 🧊, 🔥, 🐥, 📱, 🏈, 💶, 🚗, 🛒, 📦, ❄️, 💤, 💯, ⛽️, 🍯, and 🍇 have been used as codes for various drugs on social media platforms, but the meanings can vary depending on context and specific platforms. This information may help parents and guardians be more aware of potential drug-related activity on social media.
- Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles, California, and other regions should be aware that emojis like 🍁, 🌲, 🍀, 😮💨, 🔥, ❄️, 🌨️, ⛄️, 🎱, 🔑, 😛, 🐡, 🤎, 🐉, 💉, 🎯, 🐎, 🍬, ❌, 💊, ❤️, 😤, ⚡️, 🍄, 🔮, 💙, 💎, 🧪, 🧊, 🔥, 🐥, 📱, 🏈, 💶, 🚗, 🛒, 📦, ❄️, 💤, 💯, ⛽️, 🍯, and 🍇 have been used as codes for various drugs on social media platforms.
- Businesses related to entertainment and general-news firms in Los Angeles need to stay informed about the growing use of emojis as coded language for illicit drug sales on social media websites.
- Crime and justice officials in Santa Barbara County, California, including the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, should continue investigating the use of services like Zelle and Cash App in facilitating online drug sales, such as the case involving Flor Yudith Zamora, from Lompoc, and her Instagram account "malas.smokez."
- Lawmakers in California, especially those focusing on health and business matters, should consider implementing stricter regulations for online businesses and apps to combat the increasing problem of illegal drug sales on social media platforms.
