MANSFIELD — The METRICH Enforcement Unit reported 15 of 17 suspects are in custody Monday after a joint drug operation was conducted utilizing the FBI, U.S. Marshals and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
According to METRICH, these 17 individuals were found to be part of a larger drug trafficking organization that was responsible for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine into the community. This organization’s ties reached as far as California.
METRICH Commander Lt. Jason Bammann stated the investigation stemmed from evidence collected by METRICH detectives, the FBI, and the Sheriff’s Department.
This evidence resulted in the Sept. 24 federal indictments of these individuals. Detectives also served three search warrants which netted over 155 grams of suspected methamphetamine and other miscellaneous drugs.
At this time only Antoine Bentley and Zachary Wallen remain at large.
Bammann also thanks those in the community who called in the tips and complaints which assisted detectives in this investigation. He encourages future tips and complaints as it is the community’s eyes and ears that aid METRICH in having a positive impact on those communities.
