The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday the seizure of approximately $2 million in illegally sold and distributed drugs, mostly packaged to entice young buyers.
On April 15, the multi-agency Delaware County Drug Task Force raided eight locations in central Ohio, seizing thousands of pounds of marijuana, mushrooms, and vaping pens.
The raid and seizures were the result of a two-year investigation initiated by a Delaware County high school parent who raised concerns with a school resource officer. “These drugs were illegally sold to buyers, illegally transported across state lines, and illegally obtained by youth,” Delaware County Sheriff Jeff Balzer stated in a news release.
The seizures included the following:
- $417,500 in cash
- 13 firearms
- 130 pounds of marijuana candy or edibles
- 148 pounds of raw marijuana
- 64,371 grams of THC wax
- 1,128 milliliters of THC liquid
- 23,090 THC vape pens or cartridges
- 11 pounds of raw mushrooms
- 1,844 grams of edible mushrooms
Balzer emphasized how much of the packaging was made to resemble candy, with cartoon characters and vibrant colors. The sheriff’s office posted photos of packaging featuring Pokémon characters and other designs. Parents must be aware of not just how dangerous these substances are to children and their developing brains but also how easily accessible they are,” Balzer said.
The Delaware County Drug Task Force consists of individuals from the sheriff’s office, Delaware, Sunbury, and Westerville police departments, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio National Guard, and the Ohio Bureau of Investigation.
The sheriff’s office said it plans to file charges in connection with the drug seizures at a later date.
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