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Highway patrol presence increases

STEUBENVILLE – The Ohio State Highway Patrol had an increased presence along state Route 7 this week as part of an enforcement effort along the entire length of the highway.

Patrol Lt. H.T. Criss, commander of the Cambridge District’s Criminal Patrol Unit, said the increased patrols were planned along the road from Columbiana County south to look for illegal drugs. Criss said the patrol recognizes the highway is used by drug dealers to transport narcotics, especially in counties that border other states and have access to bridges.

The two-day operation on Wednesday and Thursday in Jefferson County resulted in one felony drug arrest.

The Jefferson County Drug Task Force received information a Chicago man was bringing a large amount of heroin into Steubenville from Weirton on Thursday. Troopers pulled over the car on University Boulevard at state Route 7 and found 100 grams of heroin.

Criss said 90 vehicles were stopped during the operation Wednesday and Thursday. A total of 23 citations were issued and three arrests were made for operating a vehicle under the influence. The patrol issued 28 warnings to drivers.

There were seven additional troopers, including two K-9 units, working along state Route 7 in Jefferson County throughout the operation, Criss said. They included local troopers and troopers from the district’s Criminal Patrol Unit, he said.

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