MARION, Ohio – Authorities say the indictments of 39 people on more than 100 charges should send a message to keep drugs out of Marion County.
“Those who want to come to our community and deal drugs need to ask themselves if they really want to risk being arrested, because this case is proof that we are watching, and we will come after you,” Marion County Sheriff Tim Bailey said when the indictments, handed down last week, were unsealed Thursday.
A two-year effort by federal, state and local authorities in Marion, known as “Operation Buyer’s Remorse” resulted in the arrests of 39 people on a total of 125 felony and misdemeanor charges.
The indictments primarily targeted “mid-level traffickers and addicts” who contributed to an influx of heroin, cocaine, and prescription drugs such as Percocet, Vicodin and Xanax, into Marion from Detroit and Ft. Wayne, Ind., Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said.
“While we know we cannot arrest our way out of the drug abuse problem, those who break the law must face the consequences,” DeWine said.
The arrests followed those of 19 other people on federal charges in February as part of the same effort.