Portsmouth, Ohio Fights Desperately To Close The Silk Road!

Michigan woman took a drive through Scioto County, Ohio with the packs.

One county in the state of Ohio is leading in overdose deaths. In fact, this county is probably the nation's most dangerous region for drug abuse. Scioto County which is at the tip of Southern Ohio is the hub of a major drug trafficking route. All the travelers passing through Portsmouth could be hiding narco and millions of dollars. The county and the state highway patrol vow to close the Silk Road.

The Ohio State Patrol and local authorities are trying to end a notorious route for drug traffickers. U.S. Highway 23 and Ohio State Route 823 (future Interstate 73) is a major truck and trade trafficking route to the Appalachians. It also a frequent route for drug trafficking.

I've read stories about Portsmouth, Ohio and the drug epidemic harming that area. One of my former friends lived there before moving to Dayton. Of those affected by drug abuse, I believe 1 out of 30 per 1,000. That means for every one person in the Huntington, West Virginia metropolitan area there is at least 30 affected by drug abuse. The Huntington/Ashland, KY/Ironton, OH/Portsmouth, OH region has over 359,000 residents. 

A Detroit, Michigan woman was the latest person caught in Scioto County, Ohio of trafficking fentanyl.

During the traffic stop, the woman was driving a 2021 Ford Edge with Tennessee tags and was hit with marked lane violations on the State Route 823. The driver granted consent to a search of the vehicle. 

Portsmouth, Ohio is the nation's most deadliest city. Fentanyl and heroin rocked the community of 25,000.

The woman had 600 grams of fentanyl in a magnetic box concealed under the vehicle. She was charged with trafficking and could face up to 22 years in the iron college.

She is not the only one. 

Nearly three years ago, a Dayton man and a Portsmouth woman were nabbed for methamphetamine, fentanyl and carfentanil.

In 2019, the man and the woman were stopped on U.S. Route 23 near Lucasville. The man had an outstanding warrant for previous encounters and it automatically led to a search of his vehicle. The canine Bruno got a hit of the vehicle. Under the vehicle was two pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 14 grams of heroin/fentanyl and over $3,300 in cash. The value of their load was nearly $60,000.

Then there was a search of their home. The Scioto County Sheriff's Department and Portsmouth Police used cacine Dark to search the home and found paraphilia, bags, scales and undetermined substances inside the home. 

The man had a criminal charge out of Butler County and Montgomery County. The two are currently serving time in the iron college. The man got 15 years while the woman got nine years.

Dayton man caught in Scioto County.

There were two people from Huntington, West Virginia caught on Ohio State Route 823. The troopers stopped a 2008 Lincoln Navigator on the highway for a turn signal violation. The cacine alerted to hit and found two pounds of methamphetamine in the vehicle. The women were arrested and face up to 22 years in the iron college. This happened just this week.

Then another incident happened during the same week. A Columbus, Ohio woman was charged with 140 grams of heroin and 27 grams of cocaine. The woman was driving on Ohio State Route 823. She was detained for an ounce of marijuana. The troopers found all of the goods hidden in seats wrapped around foil. Now this woman could face up to 40 years in the iron college.

And there was another incident where a man from Dayton and a woman from Portsmouth caught in smuggling.

Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer and Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman announce that a Portsmouth resident along with a Dayton, Ohio man were arrested on drug charges after an investigation conducted by the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force.

Portsmouth woman is one of dozens arrest in drug busts.

At approximately 5:28 p.m. on January 24th , 2022, task force detectives assisted by Portsmouth Police Dept. SWAT executed a narcotic related search warrant at the residence of the woman, located at 930 30th St. Portsmouth, Ohio. 

Upon a search of the residence and property, detectives seized 410 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, 28 grams of suspected heroin, digital scales, sandwich baggies, $608 cash, and additional evidence of drug trafficking. Estimated street value of suspected drugs seized is $7,400.

The woman was arrested and charged with trafficking and possession of drugs, both felonies of the 1st degree and trafficking and possession of grugs, both felonies of the 2nd degree. 

Age doesn't matter. It affects everyone.

Additionally, the man was arrested and charged with trafficking and possession of drugs, both felonies of the 1st degree and trafficking and possession of drugs, both felonies of the 2nd degree.

Last month a man from nearby New Boston arrested.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Sheriff Thoroughman, New Boston Police Chief Carl Compton, Pike County Sheriff Tracy Evans, Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless, and Portsmouth Police Chief Brewer announce the early morning drug raid in New Boston, Ohio.  

The drug investigation and raid was conducted by the newly formed Southern Ohio Organized & Major Crime Task Force, part of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. The task force was assisted in the early morning raid, located at 4222 Oak Street, New Boston, Ohio by the Portsmouth P.D. SWAT and Portsmouth Fire Department tactical medics.

A man living on 4222 Oak Street, New Boston was arrested. The man was charged with weapons under disability, a felony of the 3rd degree, possession of drugs – crack cocaine, a felony of the 3rd degree, trafficking in drugs – crack cocaine, a felony of the 3rd degree, possession of fentanyl, a felony of the 4th degree, trafficking in fentanyl, a felony of the 4th degree, and possession of criminal tools, a felony of the 5th degree.  

Portsmouth man is one of the many traffickers caught.

There have been numerous arrests throughout Portsmouth, Ohio. And it seems like for every person they nab, at least 20 more pop up.

All those involved are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

I want you to understand that drug abuse and mental illness go hand and hand.

Millions of Americans face these struggles and it's necessary for those to get the right treatment when it comes to drug abuse and mental illness. Locking up everyone will not stop drug abuse, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and mental illness.

Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.