The four suspected drug traffickers arrested in this week's seizure of 66.2 pounds of drugs are believed to be associated with the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, state Attorney General Mike DeWine and Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer said.
The haul -- 46.2 pounds (21 kilos) of mostly heroin, fentanyl and 20 pounds of marijuana -- has a street value estimated at $2 million -- was only part of the seizure executed Wednesday by the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force, part of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, DeWine and Plummer said.
The task force also discovered approximately $120,000 in cash in the raids DeWine and Plummer said occurred at several residences, including 110 Klee Ave. and 115 S. Delmar Ave. in Dayton, and 332 Hillway Drive in Harrison Twp.
The four men arrested and detained on charges of drug possession, drug trafficking and money laundering:
- Cabrera Alvarez, 42, of Phoenix
- Julio Castillo-Egurrola, 30, of Dayton
- Emmanuel Sanchez-Perez, 28, of Harrison Twp. He is not a U.S. citizen. He faced a previous deportation but returned to the States.
- and Dagoberto Verdugo-Aguirre, 45, of Dayton.
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ON THE SCENE: WHIO’s Kate Bartley attended the news conference
DeWine and Plummer said the investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected.
“If you’re thinking about bringing drugs into the Miami Valley, don’t,” Plummer said at an afternoon news conference at the sheriff’s headquarters in downtown Dayton. “We’re very good at what we do. I believe our message is clear and our unified efforts with federal, state and local law enforcement are working.”
Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger, who also spoke during the news conference, reported there have been 182 to 208 overdose deaths in the county this year. He also said Montgomery County is on pace for 750 to 800 overdose deaths.
Harshbarger noted there were 10 overdose deaths Wednesday.
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A third person who addressed reporters, Bruce Langos of the Montgomery County Drug-Free Coalition, said law enforcement (not EMS or fire) have used 400 Narcan kits so far in 2017.
Plummer said deputies at the Montgomery County jail recently had to use 16 doses of Narcan on one inmate.
At the end of the news conference, Plummer urged other law enforcement agencies to join the task force so they can end the war on drugs.
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