A gas station owner faces a felony possession charge after authorities say they found 62 suspected kratom pills during an inspection at a Jonesboro Exxon.
Mirzali Lakhani faces one count of possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, a Class C felony, according to Craighead County court records.
Arkansas Regulatory Police were inspecting the station at 3109 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on Nov. 5 when they spotted pills they identified as kratom displayed for sale, according to a probable cause affidavit. Officers called the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force to assist.
The affidavit says Lakhani, whom investigators identified as the station’s owner and permit holder, cooperated and consented to a search of the rest of the inventory. Agents reported finding 31 packages in all, each containing two pills.
Arkansas lists two compounds found in kratom, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, as Schedule I controlled substances. Arkansas Department of Health controlled substances list
Judge David Boling set bond on Lakhani’s own recognizance Thursday. Judge Tommy Fowler left the bond in place when Lakhani appeared in court Friday.
Lakhani is scheduled to appear in Craighead County Circuit Court on Jan. 25, according to his first-appearance notice.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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