The Ohio State Highway Patrol announced today that state troopers averaged more than 15 drug arrests each day through July of this year. The total drug arrests made by state troopers through July of this year were up three percent over the same period of time last year.
Through July of this year troopers made 3,379 drug arrests, and in the process seized more than 280,000 grams worth nearly $11 million.
Of these drug arrests, 185 were in Franklin County and 167 in Stark County. Rounding out the top five counties were Summit with 143 arrests, Ross with 136 and Scioto with 109. These five counties accounted for one out of every five drug arrests made by state troopers this year.
In addition, Ross, Franklin, Lorain, Summit and Tuscarawas counties have all seen an increase in drug arrests year-to-date when compared to the same period in 2008. Ross saw an increase of 51 arrests, Franklin: 48, Lorain: 39, Summit and Tuscarawas counties each increased 30 arrests.
“Through effective traffic enforcement we are able to interdict both large and small shipments of illegal narcotics that are destined for cities across the country and Ohio,” Colonel Richard H. Collins, Patrol superintendent said. “Last year, troopers made 5,226 drug arrests, some of which led local drug task forces to apprehensions in larger drug and other criminal cases - all right out of traffic stops.”
In 2008, the Patrol seized more than 5.2 million grams of illegal narcotics worth an estimated $47 million.
