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Attorney General Mike DeWine
Task Force Seizes 400
Pounds of Marijuana, Two Arrested
(DAYTON, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Montgomery County
Sheriff Phil Plummer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis, and members of
the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force announced today the seizure
of approximately 400 pounds of marijuana in connection with an
investigation into a large-scale marijuana distribution organization
operating between Dayton and Columbus.
Investigators with the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force arrested
Victor Guadiana, 54, of South Houston, Texas, and David Garcia-Barajas,
25, last night. Garcia-Barajas is not a United States citizen.
Members of the task force began investigating Guadiana earlier this
year. Following a traffic violation last night, authorities
conducted a traffic stop and found approximately 100 pounds of
marijuana in Guadiana's vehicle. Upon gathering additional
evidence, task force agents served a search warrant on a home on Gideon
Lane in Columbus, where authorities found an additional 300 pounds of
marijuana and $20,000 in cash.
"Those looking to traffic drugs in the Miami Valley should know that
they are going up against a very skilled drug task force," said Ohio
Attorney General Mike DeWine. "Through the cooperation of local,
state, and federal officials, this task force continues to remove large
quantities of drugs from the streets."
“This is another example of the ongoing battle against citizens from
Mexico illegally entering the United States and bringing in illegal
drugs into our communities,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Phil
Plummer. “It’s a collaborative effort between federal, state and
local agencies that continues to make our work successful.”
"These arrests and significant seizures demonstrate the true power of
multi-agency collaboration, which is essential to our ability to
disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations," said Steve
Francis, special agent in charge of HSI Detroit, which covers Michigan
and Ohio. "The evidence collected as part of this ongoing investigation
will ensure the case expands and leads to the dismantling of the entire
organization, which is the ultimate goal.”
Both Guadiana and Garcia-Barajas are being federally charged by the
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio. The
defendants appeared in court this afternoon and were charged with
possession with intent to distribute in excess of 100 kilograms of
marijuana.
The Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force, which is part of the Ohio
Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, is
led by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and includes
representatives from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Miami Township
Police Department, Butler Township Police Department, Montgomery County
RANGE Task Force, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Homeland
Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montgomery
County Prosecutor's Office.
Those with tips on illegal drug activity in the Miami Valley can
contact the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force at 937-225-6272.
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