COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Toledo Police Chief George Kral, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis, and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman announced today that three Houston, Texas, residents have been arrested following the seizure of a large shipment of fentanyl in Lucas County.
Authorities with the Toledo Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force, which is part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, began investigating the suspects on Monday after uncovering information about their alleged involvement in drug activity.
As part of the investigation, task force members intercepted a package containing approximately one kilogram of fentanyl that was shipped from a Lucas County post office en route to Texas. Investigators also seized an additional half kilogram of fentanyl and approximately $8,500 in cash after serving a search warrant at a Lucas County hotel where the suspects were staying.
The following suspects were each arrested on Tuesday are now facing federal charges of Conspiracy with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance: Anthony Robinson, 32, Houston, Texas, Darrius Lewis, 29, Houston, Texas and Barbara Wilson, 30, Houston, Texas.
“Individuals from out of state who think they can come into Ohio to traffic drugs undetected should know that we have task forces like this one across the state whose mission is to find you, seize your drugs, and stop you from profiting off of Ohioans who are suffering from addiction,” said Attorney General DeWine. “It took this task force less than a day and a half to identify these suspects and intercept the package of deadly fentanyl before it left the post office. I commend task force members for their swift work.”
“The fentanyl seized last night is enough to kill everyone in Toledo several times over,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman. “This is a great example of law enforcement working together to make our community safer.”
“Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid with deadly consequences for users and those in law enforcement,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis. “This significant seizure clearly demonstrates HSI’s resolve to combatting the ongoing epidemic affecting Ohio, which we redoubled last week by pledging increased resources in the state.”
Last week, HSI special agents trained more than 300 law enforcement personnel in the state on dark net and virtual currency, which is increasingly how synthetic opioids are purchased.
