More than $75 million worth of illegal drugs, 440 firearms, and $4.1 million in cash were taken off Ohio streets in 2025 by organized crime drug task forces, according to an announcement this week from Dave Yost.
The seizures were carried out by multi-agency teams operating under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), a network of local, state, and federal officers tasked with intercepting major drug trafficking operations before narcotics reach communities.
Yost praised the effort, calling the year’s haul another blow to traffickers who profit from addiction.
“Our task forces disrupt traffickers by intercepting millions of dollars’ worth of narcotics each year — making our communities that much safer,” Yost said.
A staggering haul — on paper
According to OOCIC, the 2025 seizures included large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, prescription pills, and other illicit drugs, along with hundreds of guns tied to trafficking operations. Federal partners, including Homeland Security Investigations Detroit, played a role in dismantling drug networks operating across state lines.
“These task forces demonstrate the power of collaboration,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz, noting the focus on targeting trafficking networks rather than street-level users.
Governor Mike DeWine also applauded the results, pointing to Ohio’s investment in drug interdiction and recovery-focused initiatives.
“We direct significant resources toward intercepting illegal drugs before traffickers can take advantage of those suffering from substance use disorders,” DeWine said.
The bigger question: has it changed the daily reality?
Since 2019, OOCIC task forces have seized $471 million worth of drugs, including 1,240 pounds of fentanyl, nearly 4,000 pounds of meth, more than 300,000 prescription pills, and 2,774 firearms.
Yet on the ground, many local officers continue to respond to daily overdose calls, drug-related disturbances, and repeat arrests tied to addiction. Emergency rooms, jails, and first responders remain under strain, particularly in rural and Appalachian counties where treatment resources are limited.
The numbers raise an uncomfortable question:
If nearly half a billion dollars in drugs have been seized in six years, why do overdose deaths and drug calls remain so relentless?
Law enforcement leaders say interdiction is only one piece of a much larger puzzle — one that includes treatment access, mental health services, housing instability, and long-term recovery support.
For officers answering overdose calls night after night, the seizures are real victories. But whether they represent a turning point — or simply another round in an ongoing crisis — remains an open question for Ohio communities still on the front lines.