The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released data that shows marijuana seizures this year will far surpass their haul from years past. The crime data that was released this week show that about 1.7 million grams of marijuana, or about 3,800 pounds have been seized by Highway patrol officers since January 1st. That amount of marijuana seized is already more than 26 percent higher than last year’s total seizures.Those totals do not reflect the total amount of marijuana seized in the state of Ohio, those are highway traffic stops only.
As in many cases when these seizure numbers spike from year to year, they have had some significant busts. Just last week, they seized 18 pounds of marijuana in one stop, and on April 5th they found a vehicle that was carrying 538 pounds that the officers claim was worth $2.1 million. Anne Ralston, a lieutenant in the Ohio State Highway Patrol says that the reason for the rise in marijuana busts is because they have taken a new re-focused mission to combat drugs among the law enforcement agencies this year.
Ralston is reporting that State troopers are now looking for signs of criminal activity during every traffic stop. Officer Ralston told local media that beyond the traffic stop, officers are looking for people that show them signs they may have just or may be trafficking drugs in the state of Ohio. Athens County Sheriff, Pat Kelly said that heroin seizures are also up 19 percent already over last year’s total haul. Continue reading »
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