Drugs worth over $5 million seized in statewide operation

Law enforcement officers in Ohio arrested more than 400 people on at least 920 charges and seized drugs valued at more than $5 million as part of a statewide task force operation.

The Franklin County Drug Task Force seized more drugs than any other agency in the state during the investigation.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined the Ohio Task Force Commanders’ Association and other law enforcement groups to announce the results Wednesday of the several weeks-long operation.

DeWine said the effort targeted those trafficking heroin, cocaine, prescription painkillers and other drugs.

He said most of the charges from the initiative were drug-related. More than 220 charges were related to heroin, 140 involved cocaine offenses and 110 were related to prescription drugs.

Investigators said about a third of the nearly 300 pounds of marijuana seized was suspected medical marijuana from California.

Three Columbus-area drug task forces participated in the operation, arresting 42 people on 78 charges.

The Franklin County task force arrested 22 people, with heroin the most commonly encountered drug. It led the operation in seizing the most heroin (4.4 pounds), cocaine (3.4 pounds) and prescription pills (3,062).

The task force consists of the sheriff’s office, Groveport, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Worthington, state prison officials and the prosecutor’s office.

The Central Ohio task force, which includes several Licking County police agencies, made 17 arrests, with most related to methamphetamine. The Delaware County task force arrested three people.

Statewide, the task force also seized $1.3 million in suspected drug proceeds, 141 guns and 44 vehicles.

Published by dispatch.com