WINDSOR – Search warrants served at two Windsor businesses on Monday resulted in the seizure of more than 200 counterfeit items.

Bertie Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said his deputies, in partnership with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office and the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, conducted searches of Z’s Tobacco and Vape Store and The Stop Shop Tobacco Plus Store.

Ruffin said the counterfeit items seized in bulk at both stores included e-cigarettes, drug paraphernalia, clothing, iPods and other trademarked new products.

“As a proactive initiative, undercover purchases were made from local e-cigarette stores, which led to a search of these local establishments,” Ruffin said. “In these searches, fake brands and all kinds of products that could harm our citizens, especially our children, were targeted.

“As sheriff, one of my main concerns about the items found in these types of establishments is that some of these items are illegal, harmful, and target our children,” Ruffin added.

He emphasized that the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office will continue to be proactive in initiatives like the one taken on Monday.

“We will continue to educate parents and children about counterfeit products that can harm or kill them,” Ruffin said.

Ruffin thanked other agencies that assisted in Monday’s search, including the Windsor Police Department, N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, District Attorney Kim Scott and the 7th District Attorney’s Office.

Last week, investigators with the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office assisted in a multi-county operation in Granville and Vance counties. During this operation, deputies seized thousands of dollars of THC-laced products, as well as thousands of U.S. dollars, concealed in counterfeit brand packaging for snacks and beverages.