Feds announce international drug conspiracy investigation in Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — 22 individuals from China, two from Tipp City, Ohio and another from the U.S. have been indicted as part of an international fentanyl crackdown.

Four Chinese companies were also indicted.

On Wednesday morning just before noon, several federal agencies announced an ongoing investigation into an international drug conspiracy impacting southern Ohio.

Director of the FBI, Kash Patel, said that “Operation: Boxcutter,” has seen the indictment of 22 Chinese residents, as well as three Ohio-born individuals.

Patel said that about 139 kilograms of fentanyl was apprehended during this operation.

“That’s enough lethal doses for 70 million Americans,” Patel said. “The State of Ohio is a population of 12 million people approximately. That’s five x Ohio.”

525 grams worth of powder that could be used to make fentanyl pills was also seized according to Patel.

According to U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II, one Tipp City suspect is alleged to be the main supplier of the fentanyl conspiracy’s cutting agents between Jan. 2022 to present. The suspect is alleged to have purchased these agents from the alleged companies.

These substances were used to expand the overall properties of the fentanyl. In turn, they could lead to a larger quality of fentanyl.

According to the indictment, the Chinese businesses operated as reported online pharmaceutical or chemical companies. They are alleged to have profited from the sale of the cutting agents alleged in the indictment. Profit was yielded via cryptocurrency and traditional banking methods.