Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton. Two people were arrested by Warren County Drug Task Force agents in February after a search warrant was served at 1000 W. Fifth Ave. Investigators say the investigation that led to Monday’s raid began in April 2023. The first half of 2024 was unusually busy for the task force.
The task force’s work has resulted in 41 arrests since January 1.
However, the success of these efforts does not depend solely on the number of arrests.
“I think we can measure success by the number of consumers we come into contact with and who we can help to stay clean from controlled substances,” Said lead district investigator Tom Kibbey.
“Any time we can go a week, a month, or any longer period of time without a fatal overdose of drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine or fentanyl, that’s a win for us.”
Times Observer archive photo A Warren County Drug Task Force operation in May resulted in 10 arrests. Search warrants were executed in both the Sugar Grove area and the city of Warren.
The task force is led by Kibbey and First Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown.
Brown explained several reasons for the task force’s increased activity.
“This could be due to an increasing demand for drugs and the increase in drug dealers in our community,” he said. “This is an indication that task force investigators are intensifying their investigations, conducting aggressive patrols and making their investigative strategies more effective.”
Brown said another aspect of the numbers is reflected in the number of complex cases investigators have worked on.
“Some of these investigations can take days or weeks, while others can be more complicated and take several months to fully investigate and prosecute,” he said.
And their sphere of influence often extends beyond the local drug dealer.
Brown said her goal was to investigate and arrest “those who bring this poison into our community.”
“Thanks to the cooperation with other authorities, we have managed to work our way through to the larger suppliers and identify drug trafficking organizations in the area,” Kibbey said: “and initiate proceedings and make further arrests.”
In addition to the 41 arrests, Kibbey listed the amount of drugs seized in the past six months: 3,625 pounds of methamphetamine, 49.5 grams of cocaine and 183 grams of fentanyl.
The community’s drug of choice has shifted, so to speak, and that is reflected in these statistics.
“In the last decade we have seen a shift from bath salts and heroin to fentanyl and methamphetamine,” Brown stated, “Fentanyl, with its high potency and increased presence in fentanyl-laced medications, has contributed to our current overdose crisis that we have experienced over the past few years.
“Other drugs such as cocaine and heroin are still in circulation, but are being overshadowed by the rise of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced drugs.”
And in these cases, it’s not just drugs that are confiscated.
This year’s arrests included the seizure of 16 firearms, an automatic firearm and an explosive device.
“As with most drug investigations, the sale and possession of drugs is accompanied by an increase in other crimes such as theft, assault and, unfortunately, possession of weapons,” Said Kibbey. “The number of firearms seized is increasing, but even more alarming is the type of firearms, such as modified automatic rifles and handguns, and of course the presence of explosives.”
He added that investigators found several pipe bombs during a search earlier this year.
“We were assisted in the elimination of the Erie City Police Bomb Disposal Squad,” said Kibbey.
“The discovery of these potentially dangerous items demonstrates the extreme risks associated with drug trafficking and the threat it poses to the safety of our community,” said Brown.
Those responsible have not set any concrete goals for the next six months.
“The main objective of the task force remains clear,” said Brown. “We must aggressively target those responsible for bringing these harmful drugs into our communities.”
How can the success of the task force be assessed in the future?
“I measure the success of the drug task force by every arrest it makes. Whether it was one arrest or 41 arrests in six months,” Brown said, “Every arrest is a success in holding those responsible for drug smuggling in our community accountable and ending their ability to make money by providing these drugs to users.”
“If even one drug dealer disappears from the streets, I consider that a victory and a step forward in making our community safer.”
