Task seeks 16 for drug trafficking

Law enforcement in four counties spent Thursday attempting to serve arrest warrants of 16 people indicted by a Greene County grand jury for alleged drug trafficking.

The drug sweep in Greene, Montgomery, Hamilton and Franklin counties culminates a year-long undercover investigation of drug sales by Greene County ACE Task Force, said Bruce May task force director.

“Most of those indicted are street-level dealers, but we also are looking for several mid-level dealers,” May said. One raid in Dayton netted several firearms and cocaine, he said. The two men officers were looking for were not at the address.

By Thursday afternoon, four people had been arrested.

“Even though these may be just street dealers, we know they bring drugs and crime with them when they come into our neighborhoods,” May said. “This investigation was prompted by tips from the public concerned about their neighborhoods.”

Undercover officers made controlled buys during the investigation to build the case. The grand jury issued 73 felony indictments related to the drug sales against the 16 suspects.

May said the drugs involved included heroin, crack and powder cocaine, methanphetamines, eXstacy, marijuana and prescription pills. The Dayton Daily News, WHIO-TV and News Talk Radio WHIO in late October published and aired a multi-day public service project to raise awareness of the growing prescription drug abuse epidemic in our community.

About the Author