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Over $63 million in narcotics seized by Ohio officials in 2023

By Staff report

January 1, 2024 9:15 AM

Drug offenses draw higher incarceration rates for OH women. Adobe Stock

The law enforcement task forces organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) confiscated more than $63 million in illegal drugs in 2023, including notable increases in cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms, Ohio Attorney General Yost announced Friday.

The drug busts included an October case when agents with the Mahoning Valley Major Drug Interdiction Task Force along with the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force and Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force served a search warrant on a residence in Youngstown, where they seized 3 pounds of cocaine, more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine and over $55,000 in currency.

“Our major drug interdiction task forces are taking drugs, guns and cash off the streets and holding traffickers accountable,” Yost said. “The bottom line is that poisons like fentanyl continue to stream into Ohio and ruin lives. Stopping the flow of illegal drugs has been and will continue to be a top priority.”

Task forces also seized 400 firearms

In 2023, the task forces also seized 400 firearms and $5,471,132 million in currency.

“The role of these drug task forces in the safety of our communities cannot be overstated,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “I sincerely appreciate the collaborative work of state, local, and federal law enforcement officers in 2023, and I’m grateful for their continued dedication to public safety in the year to come.”

Under AG Yost’s leadership, OOCIC task forces have seized more than 1,774 firearms, $61 million in currency, and narcotics valued in excess of $304 million.