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Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine
"Operation
OTFCA" Results in Hundreds of Arrests, Millions in Drugs Seized
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined
representatives from the Ohio Task Force Commanders' Association
(OTFCA), Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, Ohio Association of
Chiefs of Police, and Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association this morning
to announce the results of a statewide drug enforcement effort that
resulted in several hundred arrests and millions of dollars' worth of
drugs seized.
Nearly 400 law enforcement officers representing 29 OTFCA task forces
participated in "Operation OTFCA," which took place across Ohio over
the last several weeks. The Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal
Investigation has involvement with many of the task forces.
The goal of "Operation OTFCA" was to target those trafficking drugs
such as heroin, prescription drugs, and cocaine into Ohio's
communities. Many task forces also provided information on
treatment and addiction recovery assistance to those taken into custody.
"Because of this operation, millions of dollars' worth of drugs will
never make it onto the streets and into the hands of those suffering
from addiction," said Attorney General DeWine. "I applaud the local,
state, and federal authorities who worked to make this initiative a
success and who also work every day to make Ohio a safer place."
According to OTFCA, 108 search warrants were served across the state as
part of the initiative, and 409 people were arrested on at least 920
charges, most of which were drug related. As part of the
initiative, 224 heroin-related charges were filed, 140 charges involved
cocaine offenses, 110 charges were filed relating to prescription
drugs, 82 charges involved marijuana, and 51 charges involved
methamphetamine.
Operation OTFCA
As part of the operation, OTFCA task forces also reported seizing drugs
with an estimated total street value of more than $5 million, which is
in addition to a total of $1,330,644 in cash seized as part of the task
forces' investigations.
"I have been a member of the Ohio Task Force Commanders' Association
since it was formed, and I haven't met a more passionate group of law
enforcement executives working to combat Ohio's drug problems through
enforcement, prevention, and treatment," said Ohio Task Force
Commanders' Association President Jeff Orr of the Trumbull County
Sheriff's Office.
Task forces operating as part of the Ohio Task Force Commanders'
Association are funded by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services.
More information on the Ohio Task Force Commanders' Association can be
found at www.otfca.net.
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