At least 16 are arrested in 3-county drug sweep

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Arrests also were made in Mahoning and Jefferson counties.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — An ongoing drug sweep will turn into another drug crackdown later, Columbiana County Sheriff David Smith said Friday.

Federal, state and local authorities on Thursday arrested at least 16 people recently indicted by the county grand jury.

Authorities began making arrests early Thursday and were still working about 9 p.m., the sheriff said.

Arrests were made not only in Columbiana County but Jefferson and Mahoning counties as well.

The arrests are the result of information and tips obtained in the wake of a major drug sweep authorities made in April, Smith said. At that time, some 28 people were arrested on state and federal charges.

Smith said the latest round of drug-related arrests took place after the county grand jury indicted 32 people in one month.

Tips and information from the latest round of arrests will eventually lead to more arrests, the sheriff said.

Concerns about heroin

Authorities have been concerned about the rising use of heroin in Columbiana County.

The sheriff said this week's raids resulted in the finding of "just a variety of drugs" that included suspected marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin.

To process the wave of defendants, the county clerk of courts office set up at the county jail to quickly process preset bonds for the defendants.

Agencies taking part in the raids included the U.S. Marshals Office; the Drug Enforcement Agency; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; and Columbiana County's drug task force.

At least 16 are arrested in 3-county drug sweep

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