During searches of 2 residences an automatic pill press, a mechanical pill press, thousands of pressed fentanyl pills weighting approximately 11 kilograms, 2.2kilograms of bricked suspected fentanyl powder, suspected marijuana, suspected THC products, paraphernalia, three rifles, one shotgun, one handgun, and one revolver were recovered.
Three people are in custody following a long-term drug investigation by the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force.
Ronald Hesseling, II, Eric Upthegrove, Jr, and Nicoya Darby, all of Lima, were arrested on the weekend of September 11th and 12th on drug-related charges after an 18-month investigation. Their cases will be presented to the Allen County Grand Jury for additional charges. The local task force worked alongside the FBI’s Northwest Ohio Safe Streets Task Force during the investigation.
Search warrants were issued for two homes, and law enforcement seized a suspected brick of powdered fentanyl and fentanyl pills, marijuana, and THC products. Weapons, money, and a pill press were also found. The investigation is ongoing.
Narcotics related search warrants were prepared for 929 S. Atlantic Ave. and 765 S. Broadway Ave. both in Lima, Allen County, Ohio. Ronald W. Hesseling II of Lima (DOB 11/10/1980) was taken into custody without incident. Investigators then served the search warrant at 929 S. Atlantic Ave. where the target of the investigation, 38 y/o Eric L. Upthegrove Jr. (DOB 7/23/1983) and his girlfriend, 34 y/o Nicoya S. Darby (DOB 8/26/1987), both of Lima, were taken into custody without incident.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was requested, and served the narcotics related search warrant at 765 S. Broadway Ave.
During the search of both residences an automatic pill press, a mechanical pill press, thousands of pressed fentanyl pills weighting approximately 11 kilograms, 2.2kilograms of bricked suspected fentanyl powder, suspected marijuana, suspected THC products, paraphernalia, three rifles, one shotgun, one handgun, and one revolver were recovered. A total of $9,988.00 U.S. Currency was recovered and seized as well as two vehicles.
The investigation is ongoing with additional charges expected to be presented for consideration to a future session of the Allen County Grand Jury.
Tags: Arrests Drug Trafficking DTO Fentanyl Opioid Crisis Pill Press Weapons Involved