Federal agents continued to work on building a case against more than a dozen people allegedly involved in a major international drug ring, after thousands of pounds of marijuana were confiscated on the south side and from a central Ohio home.
Drug Enforcement Administration investigators and the Columbus police SWAT team raided a south side building and an Upper Arlington home, taking nearly $4 million worth of marijuana, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported on Sunday.
Agents raided a warehouse on Dering Avenue on Saturday afternoon, taking about 4,000 pounds of pot, 10TV News reported.
The drugs were believed to have been smuggled from Mexico in rental trucks that were filled with toilet paper, agents said.
Agents said marijuana was brought to the south side warehouse where it was broken down and distributed throughout central Ohio, Frazer reported.
After arresting several people during the warehouse raid, the DEA said it received a tip about more drugs.
"During the course of the investigation, we garnered some additional information on a residence in Upper Arlington where we arrested another three individuals and seized another 4,000 to 6,000 pounds of marijuana," said DEA agent Anthony Marotta.
Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with the drug operation. Their identities were not immediately released.
All 15 are expected to be arraigned on Monday, Frazer reported. They face conspiracy and drug
trafficking charges, which carry a minimum of 10 years in prison.
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November 27, 2010: 11 Arrested In South Side Drug Bust
