866 pills seized in joint operation

By Frank Lewis

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Law enforcement officers confiscated 866 prescription narcotics, a half ounce of cocaine and several grams of marijuana and heroin during a series of arrests as a part of a multi-agency two-day enforcement blitz in Scioto County on June 26 and 27.

The operation was a conglomeration of police from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, Portsmouth Police, New Boston Police, Scioto County Drug Task Force and several supporting agencies such as the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office, City Solicitor’s Office and both Municipal and Common Pleas courts.

Lieutenant Karla Taulbee, Jackson District, Criminal Patrol Commander said the two day event produced 314 traffic stops, 29 cases were initiated, 8 wanted persons were apprehended, 6 OVI and 21 suspended drivers were removed from the roadways.

“The joint effort between agencies allows for better communication and sharing of intelligence which leads to improved tactics for counteracting the crime behaviors in the county,” Taulbee said.

During the course of the operation, two back to back stops were made on U.S. 23 where 19 year old Khadijah Moore and 21 year old Duane Gibson, both from Detroit, Michigan were arrest for possession of 340 Oxycodone and 200 Alprazolam pills, felonies in the second-degree and fourth-degree. A few hours later, 30 year old Demarco Cochran of Wixom, Michigan, was arrested for possession of 325 Oxycodone pills, a second degree felony. All three were incarcerated in the Scioto County Jail.

“It is important the community understands that even though budgets are tight and overtime is limited for our agencies, we are working together to reduce the crime in Scioto County, the city of Portsmouth and the village of New Boston,” Taulbee said.

Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.

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