CLEVELAND — Two people were arrested and over $9 million worth of drugs were seized by police during an operation in Cleveland, Highland Heights and Westlake.
On Tuesday, May 14, the Narcotics & Laundering Task Force (CGNL), a multi-agency task force led by the Cleveland Division of Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted an operation involving multiple search and arrest warrants in Northeast Ohio.
The investigation led to the seizure of the following:
- 65 kilograms (143 pounds) of suspected fentanyl pills and powder
- 3 pistols
- 2 rifles
- a pill manufacturing press machine
- additional evidence related to narcotics trafficking
Cleveland police noted the six-month investigation and drugs/weapons seizure is one of the largest in Cuyahoga County's history.
In addition, a 40-year-old and a 43-year-old were both arrested on federal warrants in connection with the drug bust.
Investigators believe that nearly 600,000 "dangerous" counterfeit oxycodone Blue-M30 fentanyl pills were recovered, with an estimated street value of $9.5 million.
Throughout this investigation, the CGNL Task Force worked in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office and partner agencies from the Cleveland Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)—Strike Force.
In addition, agencies were assisted by the Cleveland Police SWAT Unit, the FBI SWAT Team, The Southwest Enforcement Bureau (SEB) SWAT Team, the Cleveland Police NICE Unit, U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and ATF Violent Gun Crime Task Force.
MORE ON WKYC...