Bassam Honeini.

DEARBORN – An Arab American Inkster resident was charged this week with supplying the Cloud 9 synthetic drug to retail distributors across metro Detroit and Macomb County. 

Bassam Honeini, 41, became the first person to be charged with the possession or delivery of the drug since local authorities issued an emergency order against it last month. The drug had made headlines after its usage had hospitalized several high school students in Canton and Westland. 

The emergency order had prohibited retailers and individuals from selling Cloud 9 or other similar synthetic drugs, deeming it a danger to public health. In previous years, law enforcement agencies had also worked to outlaw the selling and possession of K-2, a drug that led to the deaths of several young adults across the country.

Side effects of Cloud 9 can cause agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, chest pain, increased pulse, high blood pressure and suicidal thinking behavior.

Honeini, a wholesaler who operates out of a small warehouse in Dearborn, was arraigned Tuesday on a felony charge of delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance. He could face a seven year prison sentence. He was released on $5,000 personal bond and is expected to make a court appearance on November 13.

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Department said it had been aware of Honeini since he was stopped during a traffic violation last month. At the time, police found 63 vials of liquid synthetic drugs.

The synthetic drugs found in the traffic stop were labeled Shisha-Premium E-Liquid, West Coast Hookah E-Liquid, Crown E-Liquid and Relax E-Liquid, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives also searched Honeini’s apartment and warehouse, where they intercepted another package with an additional 1,200 vials of the drug. The street value of the confiscated drugs was about $50,000.

The city of Dearborn had also taken measures to keep the drug off the streets. Many believe it could have a high consumption rate in the Arab American community, as it was being marketed and packaged similarly to hookah products.  

Dearborn Police recently investigated more than 60 businesses that could have potentially sold Cloud 9, but none were found to have been carrying it.