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Ohio Organized
Crime Task Force Seizes Cocaine, Approximately $300,000
Bulk Cash Smuggling
Task Force Has Seized $7.6 Million in Drugs, $1.8 Million in Cash Since
September
(DAYTON, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Montgomery County
Sheriff Phil Plummer, Warren County Sheriff Larry Sims, and Homeland
Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge William
Hayes announced today that an ongoing investigation has led to the
seizure of more than a quarter of a million dollars and nearly 50
pounds of cocaine.
Authorities with the Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force, which is part of
the Ohio Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations
Commission, confiscated the majority of the evidence following two
separate, but related traffic stops in Montgomery County last week.
Investigators arrested the driver of one of the vehicles, Cesar
Anguiano, 35, on charges of trafficking in drugs and possession of
drugs. A warrant has been issued for the driver of the second
vehicle, Gonzalo Anguiano, 24, who ran from the scene after
investigators stopped his car.
Task force agents stopped the cars after witnessing the individuals
exchange 33 pounds of cocaine for approximately $300,000 in cash.
Authorities later arrested Mark Walker, 40, on a charge of possession
of drugs after serving a search warrant at a Dayton home in connection
with the investigation. An additional 15 pounds of cocaine and
approximately $20,000 in cash were also confiscated.
"This case is a perfect example to those who choose to traffic drugs:
Law enforcement is watching," said Attorney General DeWine. "The
message to drug dealers and cartels is that if you come to Ohio, you
can expect that we will find you, confiscate your drugs and cash, and
put you in prison."
"Cooperation between law enforcement agencies is making a significant
impact, not only seizing the drugs that are being fed to our community,
but taking the proceeds away from the cartels for future distribution,"
said Sheriff Plummer.
"This is another great example of what can be accomplished through a
task force, and we are very pleased by the success of this task force
so far," said Sheriff Sims.
"Drugs and cash are the lifeblood of trafficking organizations. When we
seize significant quantities of narcotics and cash from these criminal
groups, their ability to operate in the community is significantly
inhibited, " said William Hayes, acting special agent in charge of HSI
Detroit, which covers Michigan and Ohio. "HSI remains committed to
using our expertise in bulk cash smuggling to disrupt the criminal
groups involved in the sale of illegal drugs.”
The cases will be prosecuted by attorneys with the office of U.S.
Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Carter Stewart.
The Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force was formed in September 2013.
In that time, local investigators have seized the following drugs with
the total estimated street value of more than $7.6 million:
Heroin: 19 pounds
Marijuana: 1,146 pounds
Oxycodone: 800 pills
Methamphetamine: 25 pounds
Crack Cocaine: 90 grams
Cocaine: 51 pounds
Task force members have also seized more than $1.8 million in cash and
have made 79 arrests in the past seven months.
The Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force consists of officers from the
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Montgomery County RANGE Task Force,
Warren County Drug Task Force, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation,
Department of Homeland Security, Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office,
and Warren County Prosecutor's Office.
Established in 1986, the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission
(OOCIC) assists local law enforcement agencies in combating organized
crime and corrupt activities. The Commission is composed of
members of the law enforcement community and is chaired by the Ohio
Attorney General. In 2013, authorities working in OOCIC
task forces across the state seized more than $14 million worth of
drugs and more than $5 million in U.S. currency.
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