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Athens County Deputies Seize Large Amount of Suspect Drugs During Traffic Stop

Athens County Deputies Seize Large Amount of Suspect Drugs During Traffic Stop

ATHENS, Ohio – A routine traffic stop conducted by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office on November 23, 2024 resulted in the arrest of a Marietta man and the seizure of a significant amount of fentanyl, cash and drug-related items, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

The traffic stop took place at the intersection of State Route 682 and State Route 56. Officers identified the driver as Steven Forgoress45 years old, who had an active arrest warrant for Criminal damage issued by the Athens Municipal Court. Forgoress was removed from the vehicle and detained pursuant to the warrant.


Search reveals suspected drugs, trafficking tools

During the arrest, officers discovered a plastic bag containing suspected fentanyl and $2,785 in cash on Forgoress. Deputies deployed K9 Codywho conducted a gratuitous aerial sniff of the exterior of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics.

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed:

  • Suspected additional fentanyl, packaged for individual distribution.
  • Several digital scales.
  • On 150 prescription pills allegedly linked to drug trafficking.

Sheriff’s statement on seizure

In a press release, Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith noted the significance of the seizure and its potential impact on the community.

“Thanks to the diligent work of our K9 unit and deputies, we were able to intercept a significant amount of dangerous narcotics before they could reach our community. This is a stark reminder of the constant threat posed by illegal drugs,” said Sheriff Rodney Smith.


Arrest and investigation underway

Forgoress was transported to Southeast Ohio Regional Jailand an additional hold was placed on him by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. The sheriff’s office confirmed that all confiscated items will be sent to the Criminal Investigation Bureau (BCI) for more in-depth testing and analysis.

Additional costs may be expected, including Drug trafficking (F1). The sheriff’s office also said it would seek forfeiture of the seized money believed to be related to drug trafficking activities.