Governor Mike DeWine




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
April 13, 2022




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






Governor DeWine Launches Southwest Ohio Branch of the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center
Law Enforcement Officers at SW Ohio ONIC [ [link removed] ]

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

The new southwest Ohio ONIC 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.

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-Toledo officially launched last week.?

"As drugs continue to flow into our country from the southern border, the expansion of our Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center into southwest Ohio shows our state's ongoing commitment to doing all we can to rid our communities of deadly narcotics," said Governor DeWine. "Digital evidence continues to play an increasing role in the drug trade, and our ONIC teams offer expert criminal intelligence and technical forensic support to help our local law enforcement officers intercept drugs and dismantle drug trafficking organizations."

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.?

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