Homeland Security drug investigation leads to seizure at Uhrichsville home
UHRICHSVILLE (WJER) (Feb. 8, 2024) – Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s officials say a narcotics investigation led Homeland Security agents in Cleveland to a Uhrichsville home this week.
Detective Cole Morris says an out-of-state suspect delivered approximately 14 pounds of suspected marijuana to a residence in the 200 block of West 11th street Tuesday.
Morris says the suspect had the apparent drugs with him in a suitcase when he flew into Cleveland Hopkins Airport earlier in the day. Morris was unable to say where the man came from or how he smuggled the suspected marijuana onto the flight.
Homeland Security agents conducting surveillance at the airport notified local authorities when they learned the man was headed this way.
“They followed him from getting a checked luggage bag off the carousel and continued following him all the way until we reached the destination down here in Tuscarawas County,” said Morris.
Morris says law enforcement tracked the man to the Uhrichsville home and later executed a search warrant Tuesday afternoon. That’s when the suspected marijuana was recovered, in violation of Ohio’s new recreational legalization law.
“What we recovered well exceeds the limit you’re allowed to possess,” said Morris.
Morris says several family members were outside the home at the time of the search. He says no one was arrested, but there could be charges after lab results come back on the suspected drugs and a report is sent to the prosecutor.
“I’m sure this is happening every day all over Ohio, but we just came across this one,” said Morris. “We’re going to continue to investigate all cases, whether it’s marijuana or other illegal drugs, as long as it illegal.”
Morris says Homeland Security officials later apprehended the suspected drug deliveryman as he was trying to catch another ride in Dover from a porch in the 400 block of East 11th street just before 2:30 p.m. He was taken back to Cleveland as part of their investigation.