Nearly 70 Charged In Union Twp. Drug Sweep

UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio - WLWT.com

Union Township police and Clermont County sheriff's deputies said they've charged nearly 70 people after a months-long drug investigation.

Nearly $500,000 in heroin and marijuana was seized and 25 people have been arrested so far after an investigation, Operation Habit Breaker, that began last year as the township dealt with more than 200 drug overdoses in the township of 44,000.

"Years ago, this township had very few problems ... and that has increased dramatically over the last few years," Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg said. "It's getting to almost epidemic proportions in some areas, as indicated by the large area of people and the variety of drugs that are involved in this type of case."

List Of Indictments, Charges In 'Operation Habit Breaker'

More than 200 felony counts against 55 people were handed down by a grand jury Wednesday. The suspects either lived in Union Township or bought and sold drugs there. Another dozen were already facing charges in other cases.

Union Twp. Drug Roundup Suspect Images

In addition to the drugs, $85,000 in cash and vehicles worth $30,000 were seized.

The crackdown is the largest in township history and one of the biggest ever in Clermont County. Earlier this month, Pierce Township broke up an operation allegedly trafficking in prescription drugs, arresting nine people.

"Our citizens are the true victims here, because the burglaries, robberies and thefts are what support these drug habits," Union Twp. Police Chief Terry Zinser said.

Most Popular Stories at WLWT

• Girl's 'Notes Left Behind' Made Into Book
• Work Crew Causes Gas Leak
• Buyer Beware: You May Not Need Those Cold Meds
• Two Teens Arrested In Over-The-Rhine Homicide
• Judge: Blankenburg Not Guilty On 19 Charges, Guilty On 6

MORE FROM WLWT-TV

WLWT-TV Section Front

Spending Under Microscope As City Faces More Cuts   School Buses Collide In Warren County; At Least 17 Hurt   Police Officer Critically Injured In Crash   Motorcyclist Charged In Fatal Miamitown Crash   West Chester School Bus Crash Injures 3 WLWT-TV Section Front   Add WLWT-TV headlines to your news reader: