Belmont County, OH — A 46-year-old Clarksburg man was arrested following a major drug bust in Belmont County that uncovered over 450 grams of cocaine, suspected fentanyl, ecstasy, multiple firearms, and thousands in cash, authorities announced.
Search Warrant Leads to Major Seizure
On July 26, detectives from the Belmont County Sheriff’s Criminal Interdiction Unit executed a search warrant at a storage unit, where they seized:
- 450+ grams of cocaine
- Bulk amounts of suspected fentanyl
- Ecstasy
- Three firearms
- $3,000 in suspected drug proceeds
Suspect Arrested in Saint Clairsville
Although the suspect, identified as Tyrell Silas Askerneese, was not present at the storage unit during the raid, he was later located at another business in Belmont County and taken into custody in Saint Clairsville.
Askerneese faces several felony charges, including:
- Trafficking in cocaine
- Possession of cocaine
- Three counts of having weapons under disability
Under Ohio law, Askerneese is considered a Major Drug Offender and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Multi-Agency Operation
The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort involving:
- Belmont County Sheriff’s Criminal Interdiction Unit
- Ohio Valley Drug Task Force
- Road patrol units
- Saint Clairsville Police Department
Authorities say the case remains under investigation and additional charges could follow as evidence is processed.
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