News and Events

Operation Dark Vapor in Okeechobee County 
August 24, 2022

On August 24, 2022, Corporal Jack Nash from the Okeechobee County Sheriff Office (OCSO), made a presentation to the attendees of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee about a recent project that members of the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force conducted to combat the sale of E-Cigarette’s/Vape pens to underage minors.

Cpl. Nash spoke about “Operation Dark Vapor” which was an undercover operation that focused on the sale of Electronic Vape Product’s (EVPs) to underage minors from retailers in Okeechobee County. Cpl. Nash spoke about the ways that Big Tobacco targets the youth with their deceptive marketing and which stores were in violation for selling to minors.  Cpl. Nash said that this was a collaborative effort between the Sheriff’s Office and the City of Okeechobee Police Department, and they together were able to target 10 stores and issue several criminal summons for the violation of sale to minors.  Cpl. Nash said this is just one small step in the mission to help our youth not become lifetime customers of Big Tobacco.  

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County is dedicated to the creation of tobacco-free social norms through a combination of community education, youth advocacy and changes in local tobacco policies.  The mission of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County reflects the goals of the CDC Best Practices, especially in regard to changes in local tobacco policies to create and promote tobacco-free social norms. 

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee County is facilitated by the QuitDoc Foundation.  Learn more at www.quitdoc.com.  To learn more about the partnership or to get involved, visit TFP-Okeechobee.org or email Courtney Moyett, Program Manager at: cmoyett@quitdoc.com