Undercover Operation Exposes Illegal Kratom Sale in Davenport

By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent

iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published April 16th, 2026t

🚨 NEWS BRIEF – DAVENPORT KRATOM STING 🚨

📍 Location: Skywalker Smoke Shop, 158 California Blvd, Davenport
📅 Date: April 14, 2026
👤 Suspect: Kenisha Fowler, 29
⚠️ Incident: Sold kratom to a 15-year-old during undercover operation
🚔 Charge: Selling Kratom to Person Under 21 (2nd Degree Misdemeanor)
👮 Operation: PCSO “Operation Pop Top” compliance check

DAVENPORT, Fla. — A smoke shop clerk in Davenport has been arrested after deputies say she sold kratom to a minor during an undercover operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

According to PCSO, the incident occurred Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Skywalker Smoke Shop on California Boulevard. Investigators identified the clerk as 29-year-old Kenisha Fowler, who allegedly sold kratom to a 15-year-old participant working with deputies.

The operation was part of the sheriff’s office’s ongoing “Operation Pop Top”, which focuses on ensuring businesses comply with laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol and kratom to underage individuals. The underage buyer involved in the operation is a member of the Cadet 1000 program, which allows high school students interested in law enforcement careers to assist in controlled compliance checks.

Deputies conducted checks at three smoke shops and eight convenience stores in the Davenport area. Authorities say none of the convenience stores sold alcohol, and two smoke shops correctly refused to sell kratom. However, investigators say Fowler failed the compliance test, leading to her arrest.

🗣️ “Kratom is a drug that is currently legal in Florida, but it is illegal to sell to anyone under 21,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “We often check local businesses to make sure kratom is not being sold to anyone who is too young to buy it, just like we do with alcohol sales. In this case, one sales clerk failed the test.”

🧠 What is Kratom?

Kratom is a substance derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree and is commonly sold in powder, capsule, or liquid form. It can produce stimulant effects at low doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses, raising concerns about misuse and safety.

While kratom remains legal in Florida, it is illegal to sell to anyone under the age of 21.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says operations like this will continue to ensure businesses follow the law and protect minors.

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