Shell flushing out potential drug materials

Shell Oil officials say they are ridding their Shell and Texaco stores in Snohomish and King counties of potential drug materials after being accused of sponsoring paraphernalia sales.

The multinational corporation is completing a spot-check of all its affiliate stations in the two counties, and those selling materials that can be used as pipes for marijuana, methamphetamine or crack cocaine will be asked to stop the sales or be "debranded," said Shell spokesman Cameron Smyth.

Two anti-drug groups that raised the issue with Shell last month say they also want the company to publicly promote a zero-tolerance policy for drug-paraphernalia sales nationally and pay for county efforts to stop a growing methamphetamine problem. Shell has not provided any funding to date.

Already, two stations selling Shell gasoline have been debranded since Shell learned of sales of items that could be used as drug paraphernalia. Another shop owner has complied with Shell's request to stop selling the pipes, and a fourth owner is discussing options with the company, Smyth said.

Debranding means Shell has removed its signage and is no longer providing gas to those stations.

There are about 70 Shell and Texaco stations in Snohomish County and 170 in King County. The spot-check should be finished this week. Shell runs, franchises or sells gas to 22,000 stations under the Shell or Texaco name.

"Even though these shops only sell Shell gasoline through our wholesalers, they still have to comply with a (contract) clause that prohibits selling morally offensive materials," Smyth said. "We're hitting every one to make sure they're compliant."

The company was contacted in mid-November by two Snohomish County-based groups: Operation Lead-On, which stands for Law Enforcement Against Drugs in Our Neighborhood, and LAWBAC, or Law Enforcement Alliance with Business and Citizens. Both complained it was too easy to buy drug paraphernalia under the guise of "tobacco pipes," "glass-tube pens" and "glass-tube flower holders" at Shell's gas stations.

The two groups held a protest rally Sunday in front of an Everett Shell station that used to sell items that could be used for drugs. About a dozen people protested in front of the station with Shell signs after the corporation removed signage from another station the group had planned to protest.

"How cute is it to walk into the store with your child and see bongs and pipes between the hot dogs and soda machine?" asked Mike Roskind, a Snohomish County sheriff's deputy, who during his off-duty hours is secretary of LAWBAC.

In Washington, as in most states, it's not illegal to own a bong or pipe unless it's being used or sold for the purpose of doing drugs, Roskind said. And it's this fine line that allows stations like those connected to Shell to sell the potential drug paraphernalia, he said.

"People may ask 'Why isn't law enforcement doing more?' but it's the law that prevents it," Roskind said. "No one's going to say it's drug paraphernalia to a law-

enforcement officer."

Shell has been an easy target in the campaign to rid gas-station minimarts of such materials, said LAWBAC spokesman and former state legislator Joe Marine. Taking on the widely recognized name will get media attention, but it's also this name that draws in customers, Marine said.

"It's been very blatant in these stores, but we're going after everybody," Marine said.

"We need to put pressure on (Shell) so they demand these independent owners meet certain standards. People don't know Shell is only the gas provider."

Despite Shell's action, LAWBAC and Operation Lead-On officials say the company is backing off from a pledge to provide the groups with some funding for their efforts.

"They told us they'd fund and sponsor events geared toward drug education, and now they say they won't," said Susan York of Operation Lead-On. "They said 'Come up with a business plan so we can make donations.' "

York's business plan involved $7.5 million to create a countywide drug task force, purchase drug-sniffing dogs for the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, expand the use of drug courts and fund a group called Citizens for a Safe Snohomish County. Under York's plan, Shell would provide $2.5 million of that funding.

But Shell says the group has threatened continued protests if the company doesn't provide funding.

"It's coercion, and we're not giving in to that," Smyth said. "We're still willing to provide funding, but for specific educational activities, not some blank check for this group."

Christopher Schwarzen: 425-745-7811 or cschwarzen@seattletimes.com.