Pubdate: Thu, 31 Aug 2006
Source: Ironton Tribune (OH)
Copyright: 2006 Ironton Tribune
Contact:  http://www.irontontribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3547
Author: Teresa Moore/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials.

TASK FORCE SEIZES HEROIN

Crack cocaine. Marijuana. Pills of every sort. Local authorities 
routinely arrest people for peddling these kinds of drugs.

But Monday night, agents with the Lawrence County Drug and Major 
Crimes Task Force encountered a drug they do not normally see offered 
on the streets of Lawrence County: heroin. "The drug task force was 
started in 1998. This is the first time we have purchased heroin in 
Lawrence County," Lawrence County Sheriff Tim Sexton said. "We have a 
concern now. We have someone here who was trying to peddle this stuff."

[Name redacted], 31 of Russell, Ky., was arrested Monday night after 
attempting to sell undercover drug enforcement agents black tar 
heroin. Sexton said 14 doses of heroin were confiscated. Each dose 
has a street value of $60. [Name redacted] was charged with 
trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs and was taken to the 
Lawrence County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in Lawrence County 
Municipal Court in Chesapeake Friday to answer the charges against him.

According to information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 
heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance 
extracted from the Asian poppy plant. It is highly addictive. While 
the Lawrence County arrest may be unusual, Sexton said he is aware 
the drug is present in other cities locally, such as Huntington, W.Va.

"We like to talk about this being Lawrence County, Ohio, but we are a 
metropolitan area that includes Huntington and Ashland (Ky.). We all 
share some of the same problems and some of the same drug 
traffickers. And we often share intelligence with other agencies," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman