Buckeye Reporter

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci (R) is calling for greater use of state powers to tighten border controls, following the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's office recently publicizing indictments in its "largest drug case in recent history."

The announcement comes on the heels of a statement by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio surrounding several indictments involving an Akron drug ring that was in the process of circulating 16 kilograms of fentanyl, according to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's website.

Renacci said the state finds itself in the crosshairs of unsatisfactory policies initiated by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R).

"As long as our southern border remains wide-open to crime, human trafficking and drugs, Ohio will always be fighting the drug crisis with one hand tied behind its back," Renacci said, according to a press release from his office. "Without President Trump in the White House, now more than ever, we need Republican governors to step up and use the executive branch to tackle illegal immigration head-on, which DeWine is unwilling to do. Governors like Ron DeSantis or Greg Abbott are leading the way, while Ohio is stuck with amnesty-voting RINO (Republican in Name Only) Mike DeWine. I pledge as governor to use every tool at my office's disposal and work with the State Legislature to defund sanctuary cities and make Ohio a zero-tolerance state for illegal immigration."

The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's office reported that 79 people were indicted in the drug ring, which was receiving shipments from Puerto Rico and Mexico. A multi-agency task force investigation seized fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine worth up to $5.8 million on the streets, along with crack, marijuana, over $500,000 in cash and 49 guns.

The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio announced that 13 people stand accused of conspiracy to possess and distribute narcotics.

According to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's office, "In total, law enforcement officials seized approximately 16.6 kilograms of fentanyl, 9.9 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of valeryl fentanyl, 400 grams of cocaine, one semiautomatic rifle and four semiautomatic pistols during the execution of the search warrants."

The Ohio Capital Journal reported that deaths due to drug overdoses rose by 26.6% over previous year. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin. For Americans between the  ages of 18 and 45, fentanyl is the No. 1 cause of death, according to the CDC.

"From Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2021, Cincinnati seized 6,738 shipments, ranking the port in fifth-place for seizures among all 328 CBP ports of entry nationwide. Additionally, Cincinnati agriculture specialists issued 7,240 Emergency Action Notifications (EANs), the highest number of agriculture seizures ever recorded at the port," according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

DeWine and Renacci are set to face each other in the May 3 GOP gubernatorial primary, with the winner to be placed on ballots for the November general election.