Alpine Women Accused Of Dealing Synthetic Marijuana

ALPINE -- Two Alpine women have been arrested for allegedly trying to sell synthetic marijuana.

    Alpine Police and Brewster County Sheriff's deputies arrested Ilana Lipsen and Rosa Lipsen at the Purple Zone (in the 500 block of East Avenue E) in Alpine around 6:15 PM on November 8th.

    Ilana Lipsen, 27, and Rosa Lipsen, 55, are charged with possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone.

    Alpine Police and Brewster County Sheriff's deputies say the arrests come after a 7 month investigation into Purple Zone, which featured the execution of 2 separate search warrants.

    The first raid on the store -- which happened on March 23rd -- netted a large amount of synthetic marijuana, which is known on the street as "Spice."

    Police say the spice is often sold as a type of potpourri.

    Officers say they seized a large amount of what is believed to be a controlled substance during a second raid on the store on November 8th.

    After the second raid, Alpine Police put out arrest warrants for Ilana Lipsen and Rosa Lipsen. Both were taken into custody later in the day.

    As of Friday, both Ilana Lipsen and Rosa Lipsen were being held in the Brewster County Jail without a posted bail.