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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Drug Task Force hit a record all-time high of 258 cases in 2023, along with increasing the number of indictments and searches, all with just five full-time and two part-time agents.
"Obviously we're doing a lot more with a lot less," DTF Director Detective Sergeant Brett Grabman of the county Sheriff's Office said.
That number surpasses the 217 cases from 2022 and the previous high of 228 cases from 2016, but what Grabman said is really notable is the fact that the 228 was accomplished with 11 agents, while the number from last year was accomplished with just seven agents. That number of cases from last year is the most in 32 years since the DTF was first established in 1992.
Grabman recently shared some of the stats from last year's DTF activities, including a breakdown of the agents and of the drugs removed from county streets in 2023.
The DTF is made up of deputies and officers from various law enforcement agencies in the county. The departments must pay the salaries and benefits for the officers they assign to the DTF, but the county commissioners give an incentive to those participating communities by paying them $20,000 for a full-time officer and $10,000 for a part-time officer.
Participating departments include the Sheriff's Office with three full-time agents, the city of Salem with one full-time agent and the village of Lisbon with one full-time agent. The city of Columbiana assigns an officer part-time to the DTF and Perry Township contributes one officer part-time. Grabman said their numbers will increase to eight agents this year since St. Clair Township will be sending an officer part-time to the DTF.
The number of indictments increased from 103 in 2022 to 143 last year and the number of search warrants and consent searches increased from 98 in 2022 to 108 in 2023. There were no meth labs found, 20 drug awareness talks (892 people at 48.25 hours) were given, which is less than the previous year, and there were 41 assists of equipment or personnel to other agencies. The DTF seized $38,114 in cash and confiscated 35 firearms and spent $12,245 on drug investigations, with 46 percent of that number from grants.
Grabman said the increase to the number of indictments was significant, but still less than the number in 2017 when there were more than 200 due to what's known as the Big Oak drug case which resulted in charges against 100 people. The searches were all over the county and included homes, storage units, vehicles, cell phones and social media accounts.
One of the biggest seizures of drugs in 2023 included almost 1,000 fentanyl pills, 200 grams of cocaine and stolen firearms in one case.
Despite there being no meth labs discovered last year, Grabman said methamphetamine is the most prevalent drug in the county, noting it's the cheapest to buy. There were 863 grams of methamphetamine seized by the DTF in 2023.
Other drugs seized included: 833.5 grams of cocaine; 112 grams of crack cocaine; 539 grams of processed marijuana/THC; 203.5 grams of heroin/fentanyl; 1,184 fentanyl pills; 41 grams of hashish solids; 48 grams of hashish liquids; 111 grams of mushrooms; and 2 grams of ecstasy. The DTF removed $205,080 worth of drugs from the county, not including pharmaceuticals collected.
"The meth that we are seeing is coming direct from Mexico from the cartels," Grabman said.
The reasons he listed for that included the incarceration of the Mexican drug kingpin El Chapo, leading to a power push for control, along with the legalization of recreational marijuana by some states which takes away a large revenue source for the drug cartels and leads to them pushing meth. He also blamed the open border. He described Columbiana County as a final destination for drugs from Mexico.
When asked how the legalization of recreational marijuana in Ohio will affect the DTF, he said there will be an effect on law enforcement in general. He said there's still going to be a black market and he predicted an increase in OVI crashes. Grabman said marijuana is popular with youth and it's addictive. He also added the marijuana of today contains more THC than it did 20 years ago.
Grabman also acknowledged an increase in drug conveyance charges for people bringing drugs into the county jail.
"People are going to extreme measures to conceal drugs on them and in them when going to jail," he said.
The DTF has provided jail staff at the privately-operatated, county-owned county jail with additional training in patting down and searching prisoners, which has been helpful in drugs being found.
Grabman spoke highly of his agents, pointing to the number of cases last year as evidence of their abilities. He also offered thanks to the county commissioners for their support of the DTF, Sheriff Brian McLaughin for his trust and his commitment to the DTF, the chiefs of the participating agencies and the prosecutor's office.
He also thanked the advisory board which oversees the DTF and is comprised of the sheriff, chiefs and prosecutor. New last year was the formation of a collaboration board made up of law enforcement and community stakeholders.
Anyone with tips regarding drug activity in the county can call the DTF at 330-424-0309 and leave an anonymous message.