Area man charged with trafficking marijuana
Submitted story • January 23, 2009

TIFFIN -- A Tiffin area man was arrested this week during a marijuana-related sting at his Pleasant Township home.

Juan Martinez, 58, is charged with trafficking in marijuana, a third-degree felony, according to Seneca County authorities. Martinez is presently being held in the Seneca County Jail pending prosecution.

The investigation leading to Martinez's arrest began with the Warren County Drug Task Force and Customs/Border Protection. The group intercepted a suspicious parcel package that was coming from Texas and delivered to Martinez's residence (address removed).

Upon further investigation, agents found that the package contained a large amount of marijuana, at which time they contacted the Seneca County Drug Task Force - METRICH Enforcement Unit. The unit consists of the Fostoria Police Department, Tiffin Police Department, Seneca County Sheriff's Office and the Seneca County Prosecutor's Office.

METRICH members continued the investigation in Seneca County, delivered the suspicious package and subsequently executed a search warrant on the rural area residence, according to reports.

Agents from Agents from the Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, Zero Tolerance Task Force (Fostoria) and Agents from the DEA Task Force (Toledo Division) assisted with the search warrant.

The search warrant signed by Judge Paul Kutscher of the Seneca County Probate Court unveiled a substantial amount of marijuana and criminal tools, officials say.

"This investigation is just a small example of what we have to look forward to with our continued support of multiple jurisdictions working together to combat the increasing drug concerns in our communities," said Sgt./Detective Donald R. Joseph.

Joseph also said that citizens are encouraged to continue to report suspicious activity to their local agencies or the Seneca County Drug Task Force -- METRICH Enforcement Unit Crime Hotline at 1-877-446-drug or at 419-443-0463.

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