The largest heroin seizure in Montgomery County happened Monday night in Harrison Twp., Sheriff Phil Plummer announced during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
He and other members of the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force detailed the seizure and the arrest of Josie F. Morales-Medina, 40, during the press conference.
Morales-Medina was being held in the Montgomery County Jail Tuesday afternoon on drugs, weapons and immigration charges, Plummer said.
The seizure was part of a two-month investigation stemming from a traffic stop. Three search warrants were executed Monday in parts of Montgomery and Shelby counties, the sheriff said.
Plummer said Morales-Medina was found with 20 pounds of “pure Mexican heroin,” $450,000 in cash and four handguns — one stolen. He said the heroin has a street value of $1 million.
Morales-Medina has been deported from the U.S. three times already, Plummer said, noting that the drug task force alone has helped deport 25 illegal immigrants.
“Ohio is often the first drop-off point for other states,” he said.