Governor Mike DeWine




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
April 5, 2022




*MEDIA CONTACTS:
*Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
Jill Del Greco: 614-644-0957






Governor DeWine Launches Toledo Branch of the
Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center

(TOLEDO, Ohio)? Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today officially launched operations at the newest division of the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC).

The new ONIC-Toledo office is staffed with criminal intelligence analysts and computer forensic specialists who help local law enforcement agencies trace drug trafficking organizations back to their ringleaders and suppliers through intelligence-driven investigations.

"Digital evidence plays a large role in drug trafficking today,?and our ONIC teams provide expert criminal intelligence support?through things like cell phone analysis, cryptocurrency tracing, and dark web investigations," said Governor DeWine. "By expanding into northwest Ohio, it'll be more convenient for local law enforcement agencies to take advantage of this free support that has already proven incredibly useful in breaking up drug trafficking organizations."?

Governor DeWine first launched the ONIC in 2019 with offices in Columbus and Cleveland. Due to statewide demand for ONIC's services, Governor DeWine worked with the Ohio General Assembly to secure additional funding to create new offices in northwest and southwest Ohio. ONIC-Cincinnati will have its official launch later this month.?

Since the ONIC?s inception, intelligence analysts and forensic specialists have assisted in nearly 2,000 criminal investigations involving the extraction and analysis of more than 4,300 cell phones, over 5 million images and videos, and more than 5 million text messages.?

The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center [ [link removed] ] is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.?

ONIC-Toledo [ [link removed] ]

Governor DeWine and state, local, and federal law enforcement officials discuss the opening of ONIC-Toledo on April 5, 2022.

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