The Berks County District Attorney’s Office is investigating a downtown Reading business following the seizure of more than $25,000 worth of suspected illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia during a search Thursday.
Detectives from the Berks County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, working alongside the Reading Police Department, executed a court-authorized search warrant on October 29 at Reading Adult Outlet, located at 316 Penn Street.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the search followed an investigation prompted by repeated community complaints about suspected illegal activity and the sale of marijuana, high-concentration THC products, and drug paraphernalia at the business.
Between August and October 2026, an undercover county detective conducted several controlled purchases of suspected marijuana and glass smoking pipes from employees at the store’s sales counter.
Investigators said the products were marketed and sold in packaging claiming they were legal hemp products, including labels referencing “Sativa,” “Delta-9,” and THC concentrations below 0.3%.
However, subsequent testing conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Forensic Services determined that the plant material contained delta-9 THC concentrations exceeding the legal 0.3% threshold, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Under Pennsylvania and federal law, industrial hemp must contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Products exceeding that threshold may be classified as marijuana under controlled substance laws.
During Thursday’s search, authorities seized a large quantity of suspected illegal substances and paraphernalia, including marijuana, THC-infused products, THC vape devices, THC-labeled edibles, and suspected crack cocaine smoking devices.
The estimated value of the seized items exceeds $25,000, according to investigators.
Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said the investigation highlights concerns about retail businesses selling illegal controlled substances under the appearance of legitimate hemp products.
“The distribution of illegal controlled substances under the guise of legitimate hemp products will not be tolerated in Berks County. Commercial operators cannot hide behind fraudulent labels, register receipts, and storefront displays to push Schedule I narcotics into our neighborhoods,” Adams said.
Adams also expressed concerns about unregulated intoxicating cannabinoid products being sold at convenience stores, smoke shops, and adult retail businesses, particularly products that may lack age verification or consistent manufacturing standards.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges were announced in the October 30 release.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913, through the ALERTBERKS mobile app, or by texting ALERTBERKS and the tip to 847411.
