CIRCLEVILLE – Authorities in southern Ohio rounded up 59 suspects and seized drugs and stolen guns as they broke up a drug ring allegedly operating in three counties.
The arrests were the result of an undercover drug task force operation by the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force sheriff’s offices from Fayette, Pickaway and Ross counties; the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, attorney general David Yost announced Thursday.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Ice Up,” focused on the trafficking of narcotics and stolen firearms, which Yost says led to indictments of 59 people, netted 95 ounces of confiscated methamphetamine and 109 doses of hydrocodone as well as cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and suboxone, and eight stolen firearms.
A total of 163 felony charges were filed, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs, which carry a potential maximum combined sentence of more than 1,000 years in prison.