During the early hours of March 12, 2020, authorities came together to embark on operation Hadley’s Hope III, a nearly four-year investigation,that involved hundreds of investigative man hours.
The focus being to rid our local community of narcotics and the individuals who have been flooding our streets with these narcotics.Operation Hadley’s Hope III consisted of members from the METRICH Enforcement Unit, FBI, U.S. Marshals, ATF, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Mansfield Division of Police, and Ontario Police Department. Tactical teams from the FBI, Richland County ASORT, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Mt. Vernon Police Department were also utilized.
Authorities converged on nine locations and sought thirty-nine (39) individuals on both Federal and State charges.The operation’s primary focus was on Mansfield, Richland County OH but did extended to Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI.
These search warrants produced an abundance of narcotics, which included cocaine, marijuana, prescription pills and over four hundred (400) grams of heroin/fentanyl. Also seized were seven (7) guns, one of which was reported stolen out of The Columbus Police Department. Investigators also seized U.S.currency which has been used in funding these illegal narcotics operations. As for the 39 individuals, thirty-five (35) of them have been apprehended as of this press release
Operations of this magnitude do remove a large part of the narcotic element that plagues communities across the country. It is imperative, however, that the community continues to work with authorities to help identify the criminal element that plagues our neighborhoods.
Operation Hadley’s Hope III demonstrates the enormous benefits to communities when Federal, State and Local authorities come together to share both resources and manpower.
The METRICH Enforcement Unit encourages citizens to continue to be proactive by reporting suspected drug activity. Citizens can call the METRICH Crime Tip Hotline at 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or the Task Force line at 419-755-9728