A man suspected of burglarizing a Lowndes County convenience store twice in search of so-called “gas station heroin” is behind bars, according to Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins.
Joshua Clint Bolin, 35, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of burglary, Hawkins said. He allegedly broke into the Country Mart, 5855 Hwy. 182 E., on Sept. 5, 2022, and Jan. 8.
During both burglaries, Bolin allegedly only took an over-the-counter drug called “Za-Za,” Hawkins said, which contains the chemical tianeptine. It is also marketed as Nootropic, Za-Za, Za-Za Red, TD Red or Tianaa.
The drug mimics opioid effects, Hawkins said.
“These drugs are new on the scene and users are changing their drug of choice and going to things like this because they can get around drug tests,” he said. “Obviously it’s addictive or you wouldn’t have someone breaking into convenience stores to get it.”
Investigators had video footage of Bolin, who was masked both times, breaking in, Hawkins said.
“The investigators viewed the footage and were able to get enough information to identify who this guy was,” he said. “They did their homework and were able to get enough probable cause to execute a search warrant on the residence.”
No Za-Za was recovered, Hawkins said, but other evidence tying Bolin to the crimes was.
“When I say evidence I mean clothing that matched what he was wearing in the videos, and things of that nature,” he said.
Over-the-counter drugs like Za-Za are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, he said.
“There’s no control over them,” he said. “You don’t know the quantity of chemicals or the kind of chemicals, you don’t know where they are being made. A lot of times they are being made in somebody’s garage.”
There is also no age restriction on who can buy it, he said.
“Any 16-year-old kid can walk into a convenience store and buy it,” he said. “It’s scary, it really is.”
Bolin is currently in custody at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center, Hawkins said. Bond has not been set.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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