WPBN: Ohio Attorney General Yost said today that law enforcement task groups under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) seized over $92 million worth of illegal substances in 2024, in addition to 560 guns and $4.7 million in cash.
Since 2019, OOCIC task squads led by AG Yost have seized 2,334 weapons, 1,154 pounds of fentanyl, 1,994 pounds of cocaine, and over 288,000 prescription tablets.
Task forces are established under OOCIC’s guidance through cooperative efforts and frequently include federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations.
In particular, significant drug interdiction task forces work all over the state, concentrating on capturing illegal drugs, firearms, and money before they have an effect on Ohio communities.
52.6% of Ohio’s population is served by the 17 Ohio counties where OOCIC large drug task groups are active.
RecoveryOhio, in partnership with Ohio Criminal Justice Services and the Ohio Department of Public Safety, provides funding for a number of significant drug task forces.
In 2024, methamphetamine levels skyrocketed, partly due to a historic seizure in August.
On August 3, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Central Ohio OOCIC/HIDTA Major Drug Interdiction Task Force pulled over a commercial vehicle in Madison County that was transporting 30 pounds of marijuana, 17.6 pounds of cocaine, and 300 pounds of methamphetamine.
It is thought to be the greatest methamphetamine interdiction in the history of the state, with a total estimated street value of $14.6 million.
Task forces reported a significant rise in the number of psilocybin mushrooms confiscated for the second consecutive year.
The popular drug is highlighted by a seizure made by the Hamilton County Major Drug Task Force in November. The task squad removed 32 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms from the streets in a single seizure.
2024 Notable Seizures
A sample of 2024 seizures:
Major Drug and Bulk Currency Interdiction Task Force Northwest Ohio
The task force identified a male suspected of felony gift card theft on July 24. A traffic stop netted 1,800 gift cards, criminal tools, and two cell phones. The investigation continues.
On Sept. 24, task force detectives identified two guys suspected of felony gift card theft. After being stopped, the two males had over 560 stolen gift cards.
The task force includes the Toledo Police Department, Lucas and Wood county sheriffs, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Toledo Drug Task Force, the State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, and the Lucas and Wood county prosecutors.
Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont Major Drug Task Force
Task force investigators conducted a search warrant in Belmont County on Oct. 2 and arrested three people and seized two firearms, including a stolen gun.
The agents recovered 222 grams of fentanyl, 135 grams of cocaine, and 157 Suboxone dosages.
The task force executed Jefferson County search warrants on Oct. 15, focusing on a Wintersville storage complex. Agents found cocaine, fentanyl, two weapons, and money. Bentley, Audi, and a three-wheeled motorcycle were taken from the storage container.
Five more vehicles and three firearms were seized at a Steubenville home. An investigator found cocaine and fentanyl in a vehicle. Sized were 6.22 kg cocaine, 3.94 g fentanyl, and $167,000.
The FBI, Belmont, Harrison, and Jefferson county sheriffs, and prosecutors make up the task team.
Felony Drug Charges Lead to Sudden Resignation of Montana Judge-Elect
Miami Valley Major Drug Taskforce
A February car stop in Englewood yielded 9 kilograms of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine to task force agencies.
In August, the task force detained two Miami Valley residents driving a car that often crossed the U.S. southern border. After surveillance, investigators stopped a car and found 70 pounds of marijuana, 450 THC vape cartridges, a weapon, and $10,000.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Vandalia Police Department, Butler Township Police Department, BCI, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office comprise the task force.
Medina/Cuyahoga Major Drug Task Force
The task force intercepted a 12-pound methamphetamine package for a Cuyahoga County business in September.
In a long-term investigation this year, task force officers uncovered a Cleveland resident suspected of moving revenue from the sale of illegal narcotics from Los Angeles to Cleveland.
Detectives found $69,846 in lotion and shampoo bottles.
Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Prosecutor’s Office, Cleveland Division of Police, and Homeland Security Investigations comprise the task force.
FBI Seizes 150 Pipe Bombs in Virginia, Possibly Largest-Ever Explosive Device Bust
Central Ohio HIDTA
Task force agents and troopers stopped a commercial truck on I-70 in Madison County on Aug. 3 and seized 300 pounds of methamphetamine, 17.6 pounds of cocaine, and 30 pounds of marijuana The contraband is worth $14.6 million or so.
Another commercial vehicle suspected of drug trafficking was stopped on I-70 in Clark County on Aug. 6. Over $935,000 in money was seized.
A task group intercepted 14 kg of cocaine bound for central Ohio in October.
The Columbus Division of Police, Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Gahanna Police, IRS, HSSI, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, State Highway Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspector, and Ohio HIDTA comprise the task force.
Major Drug Task Force Hamilton County
June task force seizures included 80 pounds of methamphetamine. Task force agents recovered 32 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms in November.
The seizures were part of an ongoing investigation to stop illegal drug trafficking into Hamilton County.
The task force includes the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Regional Narcotics Unit, Green Township Police, and Cheviot Police.
New Bill in South Carolina Could Hold Drug Dealers Accountable for Homicides
Two more task forces increased seizure totals:
Sheriffs from Stark and Summit counties, the Copley Township Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, the State Highway Patrol, the Summit County Drug Task Force, the Stark County Drug Unit, and the Summit and Stark County Prosecutors’ Offices make up the Summit & Stark Major Drug Interdiction Task Force.
The CODE Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Licking, Muskingum, and Guernsey county sheriffs and prosecutors form the Licking, Muskingum, Guernsey Major Drug Interdiction Task Force.
REFERENCE
