A major drug bust in Dayton, Ohio has led to the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker and the seizure of 10 kilograms of cocaine, worth nearly $1 million. The successful operation, which concluded a lengthy investigation, was carried out by the Miami Valley Major Drug Task Force.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck announced that Maurice Sallis, 46, was taken into custody on January 9, 2025. Authorities discovered Sallis with a suitcase containing 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of cocaine, valued at approximately $1 million on the street.
Yost stated, “Drug traffickers beware – Ohio is not a destination for your poison. Thanks to Sheriff Streck and our OOCIC task force, 22 pounds of cocaine will not wreak havoc in our communities.”
The investigation had focused on individuals transporting narcotics across the country, often using public transportation. Sallis’s arrest follows a series of tracking efforts by law enforcement.
Sheriff Streck commended the efforts of the task force, noting the significance of taking such a large amount of cocaine off the streets. “This is a major achievement in protecting our communities,” he said. “The collaboration of this team is key to preventing these dangerous substances from entering our neighborhoods.”
The Miami Valley Major Drug Task Force, led by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), includes personnel from various law enforcement agencies, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
Angie M. Salazar, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Detroit, emphasized the importance of these collaborative efforts in combating drug trafficking. “These partnerships continue to disrupt drug trafficking organizations and hold traffickers accountable,” Salazar said.
The investigation is still ongoing, with more details expected as the case develops. Federal drug trafficking charges are anticipated in the coming weeks.
