TRUMBULL COUNTY Targeting traffickers

Officials said those arrested are accused of selling a variety of drugs, including cocaine, marijuana and OxyContin.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Trumbull County Drug Task Force is hoping that the recent indictments of several adults and one juvenile on drug charges will deter others from trafficking in drugs.
Task-force officials said the recent indictments were the result of an eight-month investigation.
The 12 adults were secretly indicted earlier this month. The adults and the juvenile were arrested on the charges Tuesday evening.
The 12 adults were held in the county jail overnight and appeared in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday afternoon. All 12 made bond and were given dates to return to court. The bonds ranged from $2,500 to $7,500.
Officials said those arrested are accused of selling various drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and OxyContin. OxyContin is a prescription painkiller that is often prescribed to patients with cancer.
Sheriff's comment: Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere said his department is going to continue to investigate "all types of illegal drug trafficking."
"We are not going to stop, but we hope that those selling drugs in Trumbull County will," Altiere said.
Officials said the juvenile will be arraigned later this week.
Drug task-force officials said their investigation is continuing and they will be filing additional charges in the next few weeks.
The task force is a multijurisdictional drug enforcement agency made up of numerous law enforcement agencies. The task force's objective is to target mid- to upper-level drug dealers operating in the county.
The task force asks that any citizen in Trumbull County with any information about illegal drug sales call (330) 675-7071. Anonymity will be respected.