NOBLE COUNTY, Ohio — A routine traffic stop led to a major drug bust on Interstate 77 near Caldwell, resulting in the seizure of a pound of suspected methamphetamine — more than 100 times the what Noble County Sheriff Jason Mackie says is a bulk amount — along with a quantity of suspected cocaine.
Mackie announced the drug bust on social media Thursday.
On February 22, Deputy Jeff Perry of the Noble County Sheriff’s Office initiated the traffic stop after observing an equipment violation. The vehicle’s driver and registered owner, 46-year-old DeShawn Busby of Columbus, Ohio, was questioned at the scene.
Corporal Shayne Leggett and Sheriff’s K-9 Dagger were on scene and the dog performed a free air sniff around the vehicle. K-9 Dagger gave a positive alert, indicating the presence of suspected illegal narcotics.
A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a large amount of suspected methamphetamine. Deputies also found a white powdery substance on Busby’s person, believed to be cocaine.
Busby was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Noble County Jail. He has been charged with Aggravated Possession of Drugs, a first-degree felony, and Possession of Cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.
Mackie praised his team for their dedication to keeping drugs off the streets.
“I commend my deputies once again for their vigilance in combating drug trafficking in our county. Their commitment is evident, producing results every shift, every day. This is one of the largest seizures of methamphetamine ever in Noble County,” Mackie said.
A separate traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Guernsey County last month led to a major drug bust, with authorities seizing 700 hundreds of pounds of marijuana valued at approximately $3.5 million. See story here:
Major drug bust on local highway: deputies seize pound of suspected methamphetamine, cocaine
This incident marks the second major drug seizure in recent weeks along the I-70/I-77 corridor in the Guernsey and Noble county area.
