The Greensboro Police Department in North Carolina has sparked widespread reaction online after telling people who believe their cocaine dealer shortchanged them to contact the police and file an official complaint.
In a post on its official X account, @GSO_Police, the department wrote, “If your cocaine dealer shorted you and didn’t supply you with the full amount of product, contact us at 336-373-2222 to file an official complaint.”
The post, published on Monday evening local time, had garnered more than eight million views by Tuesday morning, according to Arabic outlet Arabi21.
The Greensboro Police Department has built a reputation for using satire and humour on social media to engage the public while passing across serious messages about crime and public safety.
Earlier this year, the department posted: “If your meth dealer has all their teeth, it’s the police. Also, do not do meth or any illegal drugs. #DontCrime” .
In March, it joked about St. Patrick’s Day: “If your crack cocaine is green today, it’s the pollen. More importantly, please let us know if you have cocaine so we can visit you.”
The department also once invited the public to an open house with the line: “Bring your best and illegal drugs” .
According to the Carolina Journal, what started as a few experimental posts has turned the department’s social media into a recognisable account, used to connect with the community and draw attention to its messages.
While the post was clearly in jest, the department has been active in real narcotics enforcement.
In September 2026, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, in partnership with the Greensboro Police Department, arrested multiple people after an investigation into illicit drug sales at Bar Latino and an illegal nightclub in Greensboro. Undercover agents purchased cocaine from employees and patrons on multiple occasions, and authorities seized cocaine, MDMA, firearms and alcohol during search warrants.
In October, Greensboro police arrested a 41-year-old man on charges including trafficking in cocaine and possession with intent to sell cocaine, following a shooting investigation.
The department has not issued any further statement on the viral post or whether anyone actually called the number to file a complaint about their dealer.
