Ohio task force targeting commercial vehicles on I-70 seizes $14.6 million in drugs, $935K in cash

An Ohio task force targeting commercial vehicles traveling on the I-70 corridor recently made drug and cash seizures “believed to be among the largest in state history.”

On August 8, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced that “ongoing commercial vehicle interdiction efforts along the I-70 corridor by the Central Ohio OOCIC/HIDTA Major Drug Interdiction Task Force and the Ohio State Highway Patrol have led to two recent significant seizures.”

According to Yost, an August 3 commercial vehicle traffic stop on I-70 in Madison County led to the seizure 300 pounds of methamphetamine, 17.6 pounds of cocaine and 30 pounds of marijuana. In total, the seized drugs have an estimated street value of $14.6 million.

A second traffic stop took place on August 6. Officials say that “a separate commercial vehicle thought to be involved in drug trafficking was stopped along I-70 in Clark County.” Officials seized more than $935,000 in currency.

Yost said that the methamphetamine and cash seizures are thought to be “among the largest in state history.”

“Drug traffickers intent on delivering destruction to central Ohio should take note – our task force and our partners are watching,” Yost said. “Kudos to our task force officers who worked to get these dangerous drugs and ill-gotten profits off our highways.”

The Central Ohio OOCIC/HIDTA Major Drug Interdiction Task Force is still investigating both incidents.