Nearly 100 indictments on drug charges handed up in Columbiana County

Staff report

LISBON

Members of law enforcement from throughout Columbiana County rounded up suspected drug dealers and users as part of a countywide drug sweep.

Two grand juries handed up nearly 100 drug-related indictments, according to a report from 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.

As of late Thursday, police and deputy sheriffs had arrested more than 40 people who they say are responsible for the drug problems plaguing the county.

The drug of choice is heroin and, according to Sheriff Raymond Stone, it’s an ongoing battle.

“Most of them in our area are small-time users and dealers, but there are some that come down from Youngstown that we are indicting. This is just a large network, basically, it’s everywhere,” Stone told the television station’s reporter.

The indictments came from a joint investigation among the Columbiana County Drug Task Force, the sheriff’s office and many local police departments, including East Liverpool.

The ages of those arrested range from 20 to 61. Sixteen of those indicted were already in jail or prison.

The sheriff told the television station that when you take 100 people off the streets for drug crimes, that also will make a dent in stopping other crimes in the county.

Many heroin addicts spend on average $80 to $300 a day to fuel their habit.

“These people don’t have jobs, so they are getting their money from somewhere, and it’s usually from illegal activity,” Stone said.

East Liverpool Police Chief John Lane said, “Drugs fuel all the other crimes. You got your thefts and your assaults and your shootings, they all stem from one thing – drugs. That’s why you need people to work and stay dedicated to that. You get all the indictments from that, and it stops it — if you had enough people to do it, but it just seems you can’t get the funding to get the people you need.”

Even after these arrests law-enforcement officers say there’s no time to rest. Their drug investigations will continue as the high demand for heroin continues.