Task Force nabs organized drug group

GREENE COUNTY (Xenia Gazette) - PAUL COLLINS
Staff Writer

The Greene County Agencies for Combined Action (ACE) Task Force helped strike a blow against a large organized group that has been funneling drugs into Greene County for several months on Thursday, Oct. 13, and Friday, Oct. 14.

According to Bruce May, the director of the Greene County ACE Task Force, undercover operatives made purchases from members of the network. Those purchases helped the authorities procure probable cause search warrants for addresses affiliated with the group. Eleven warrants were served to addresses in Greene, Montgomery and Hamilton counties on Thursday, Oct. 13. An additional warrant was served in Greene County a day later. The task force received assistance from several law enforcement entities, including the Springdale Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Regional Agencies Narcotics and Gun Enforcement (RANGE) Task Force, the Montgomery County Tactical Crime Suppression Unit and the Dayton Police Department.

“This is a multijurisdictional investigation,” said Bruce May.

Evidence was collected from the various addresses, including numerous ounces of cocaine, empty kilo wrappers with residue, long guns and handguns and cash. The cash collected, says May, is a significant amount.

“The cash is still being counted, but we know that there are tens of thousands of dollars,” said May.

Six of the locations visited by law enforcement agencies were in Greene County. According to May, the majority of purchases made by undercover operatives were in Greene County as well. The Greene County ACE Task Force is seeking action on the part of the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office.

“The evidence will be presented to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, including the purchase of illicit drugs made prior to the issuance of the search warrants,” said May. “This group is responsible for a lot of drugs dealt on the streets of Greene County. This is a significant drug trafficking group that needs to be curtailed.”