Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center Releases Strategic Report

The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) has issued its first Strategic Report. The report outlines ONIC’s work to reduce drug use, drug manufacturing and trafficking, drug-related violent crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences. ONIC’s goal is to save lives and reduce drug poisoning by interrupting Ohio’s illicit drug supply.

ONIC has worked to take a strategic approach to reduce overdose deaths by disrupting the drug supply using accelerated intelligence and enhanced partnerships. ONIC operates intelligence units and digital forensic laboratories in four locations across the state: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo. ONIC collaborates with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to leverage the best technologies and analysis available to detect, identify, and intercept dangerous drugs from hitting our streets. The organization points to a 14% decrease in unintentional overdose deaths from 2021-2023 as being related to this work.

Analysts from ONIC believe that over the next five years, Ohio will almost certainly confront a complex, volatile, and unpredictable drug landscape. Combinations of potent drugs will very likely be responsible for most drug poisoning deaths across Ohio. Drug traffickers will likely leverage technology such as encryption and cryptocurrency to conceal incriminating evidence about their illicit activities.