SALEM — A raid at a Route 28 store by federal and local authorities on Wednesday was part of a first-ever nationwide sweep targeting synthetic designer drugs, according to police.

Salem police and federal agents seized 76 boxes of evidence from Can You Dig It, a smoke shop/adult novelty store, where authorities allege a variety of intoxicants were being sold.

Wednesday’s raid was part of Operation Log Jam — a multi-state crackdown that happened in 109 cities and towns — headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Salem case may be a legal test for authorities who say that New Hampshire has no state law on its books to regulate such products. Federal authorities are expected to prosecute the case.

A lawyer representing the store’s owner, Judy Tridenti of North Andover, Mass., said on Thursday that the store had no illegal products, contrary to statements made by police.

“We are prepared to vigorously defend this case,” attorney Karen Hewes said in a statement. “Everything in Ms. Tridenti’s store was legal, and we intend to prove that in court.”

Tridenti was not charged with any crime on Wednesday.

Salem Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten said he expects federal charges against Tridenti to be forthcoming.

More than 90 people were arrested during the nationwide sweep, according to a DEA statement. Agents and local police departments seized 5 million packets of finished designer synthetic drugs.

The 76 boxes seized from the Salem raid are now in federal custody, Patten said.

Police and federal authorities had been investigating Can You Dig It for more than a year, conducting undercover purchases of bath salts and other products that can be used as intoxicants.

“Merchandise was bought from the store by federal authorities and tested and deemed as illegal,” Patten said.

Federal authorities say they plan on prosecuting under a 1986 amendment to the Controlled Substances Act that allows legal actions against substances if they are proven to be chemically or pharmacologically similar to Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances

Operation Log Jam netted 4.8 million packets of synthetic cannabinoids, and 167,000 packets of synthetic cathinones (also known as bath salts), according to the DEA. More than $36 million in cash was also seized.

Officials from Immigrations Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Postal Service and the Internal Revenue Service are also involved in the case. The DEA said the synthetic drugs targeted in Wednesday’s raids mimic the effects of cocaine, LSD, MDMA and methamphetamine. Such products have becoming increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults, some of whom believe the synthetic drugs will allow them to bypass drug testing used by employers or government agencies, the DEA said.

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James A. Kimble may be reached at JKimble@newstote.com.