-from newsnet5.com-

BRUNSWICK, Ohio — Two homes were raided on Tuesday by officers who found marijuana-growing operations inside each home, NewsChannel5 reported.

No one was home at the time of the raid. Just about two weeks ago, officers conducted similar drug raids on several other homes in the same area. There was also another drug bust in Osnaburg Township. In that raid, officials also found a a marijuana-growing operation. Charges are pending.

-from The Robesonian-

By Matt Elofson

Authorities say they seized nearly 5 pounds of marijuana and cocaine in separate drug raids this week that resulted in four arrests.

Sheriff’s drug agents say they got slightly more than 2 pounds of cocaine during an undercover drug buy at a store parking lot in Lumberton on Tuesday about 7 p.m. According to sheriff’s Lt. Charlie Revels, the drugs had a street value of about $55,000.

Arrested were Camerino “Carlos” Morales, 27, of 5258 McDuffie Crossing Road, Lumberton, and Ronald Theodore Lopez-Camacho, 49, of Fayetteville.

Revels said undercover agents told Morales they wanted to pay $20,000 for about 2 pounds of cocaine. He said Morales ran when officer tried to arrested him, but stopped when they pulled their weapons.

Agents also seized 29 grams of “crack cocaine” from Morales’ pocket and 28 grams of powder cocaine from the ashtray of his 1994 GMC pickup truck, Revels said.

Morales was charged with trafficking in cocaine by possession, trafficking in cocaine by sell, trafficking in cocaine by delivery, trafficking in cocaine by transport, conspiracy to traffick in cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Camacho was charged with conspiracy to traffick in cocaine.

Morales was jailed on a $200,000 bond and Lopez on a $15,000 bond.

In an unrelated incident, agents raided a Pembroke home Wednesday and charged two men with possession with intent to sell marijuana. Agents say they seized about 3 pounds of marijuana from 19-year-old Darwin “Papa” Dial Jr.’s residence at 125 Vernie Drive near Pembroke.

Investigators arrested Dial and his cousin, 22-year-old Luis Anthonio Bonilla Jr.

Agents searched the home about 12:30 p.m. while both Bonilla and Dial were still in bed sleeping, according to Revels. Investigators say they seized about 1,460 grams of marijuana, nine marijuana plants, three 12-gauge shotguns and $1,761 in cash.

Revels said the marijuana had a street value of about $7,000.

Bonilla and Dial were each charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, manufacturing marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bonilla was jailed on an $8,000 bond and Dial on a $6,000 bond.

-from the times-journal-

By Kelly Townsend

Despite another methamphetamine case late last week, officials with the DeKalb County Drug Task Force say the meth labs busts are running about the same as last year.

Through nearly the first half of 2006, authorities have busted 24 labs. In all of last year, 41 were raided; prompting task force commander Darrell Collins to say the overall production of meth labs continues to appear as a steady rate in the county.

“It is pretty much going at the same pace as it did last year,” Collins said.

After a short investigation at a home on County Road 221 in Collinsville, authorities arrested Brian Keith Venable on Thursday.

Venable, 33 of Collinsville, was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

The arrest was made at around 12:05 a.m., after an eighth of an ounce of meth was allegedly found in Venable’s possession, along with various items of drug paraphernalia.

Venable was booked in the DeKalb County jail Thursday morning. Bond has not been set.

In 2005, Collins said he saw a decline in the number of meth labs, but a steady increase in the use of cocaine and marijuana.

“The rise of cocaine and marijuana is something we are continuing to see more of in 2006,” Collins said.

Collins said there were 68 meth labs in 2004, and he believes the reason for the decline has to do with the new pseudoephedrine law that went into affect Aug. 1.

This law restricts the sale of cold and allergy products containing pseudophedrine.

Collins said he also believed some other key arrests and convictions in the county also helped with the decline. He wouldn’t elaborate on specific cases.

Arrests for manufacturing of controlled substance also fell by more than half in 2005, with 43, compared to 103 in 2004.

Arrests for possession of methamphetamine was up to 223 from 209 in 2004.

“I believe these numbers are up because we are seeing more imported meth out of Mexico coming into this area,” Collins said.

Trafficking meth basically stayed the same, with 12 reported arrests in 2005, two less than 2004