CLERMONT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
A. J. Rodenberg, Jr., Sheriff
"Leadership By Example"
Office (513) 732-7500
PRESS RELEASE
To : All Media
From: Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg, Jr.
Clermont County Sheriff's Office
Subject: Drug Eradication Program
Date: Thursday September 28, 2006
Clermont County Narcotics Unit, supported by Clermont County Sheriff’s deputies have been engaged in an air and ground effort to eradicate growing marijuana plants prior to the harvest season. Law enforcement uses a variety of resources to search open areas for plants, throughout the growing season. Plants range from four to eight feet in height, and are valued at approx $1,500.00 per healthy plant. Deputies investigate all circumstances around each discovery hoping to develop enough information to charge those responsible for cultivating the plants, which is a serious felony charge. Once the plants are seized, they are destroyed, preventing distribution of the finished product.
On August 4, 2006 one-hundred twenty-five plants were seized, and on September 27, 2006, seventy-six plants were confiscated using all-terrain vehicles and helicopters. Deputies continue to search Clermont County for growing operations and ask the public to call the Clermont County Narcotics Unit at 625-2806 or the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office at 732-7500 to report their location or any suspicions.
The results of the investigation are listed below by township. Agents of Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation assisted in this operation along with officers from Union and Miami Township Police, Milford Police Department and the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office. The Clermont County Narcotics Unit is under the direction and management of the Clermont County Sheriff.
August 4
Goshen Township 61 plants
Monroe Township 11 plants
Stonelick Township 4 plants
Tate Township 14 plants
Wayne Township 35 plants
September 27
Wayne Township 16 plants
Jackson Township 26 plants
Williamsburg Township 30 plants