Here’s how 600 pounds of marijuana was hidden by smugglers

The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely, according to Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones.

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“This is definitely not the first load they did,” DEA Agent Tim Reagan said. “We are confident four or five times at least they ran this up into this area.”

The alleged smugglers brought the 600 pounds of marijuana to Fairfield from Mexico by concealing it inside the walls of a semi tractor-trailer, Reagan and Jones said at a news conference Wednesday morning.

Jones said four suspects unloaded the marijuana at an antique mall parking lot on Ohio 4 in Fairfield. Undercover agents and deputies watched the suspects for six hours before moving in and arresting them, he said.

“They got into the semi truck, and at that point, the doors were locked,” Jones said. “They were inside, taking the walls apart inside the truck. At that point, the doors were opened, the marijuana was put into the U-Haul truck, and at that point, there was a stop made in Fairfield.”

Jones put the marijuana’s street value at $500,000.

One-third of the cargo — 200 pounds — went to the home of a Cincinnati Police employee, Reagan and Jones said.

Teneal Poole, 36, and her boyfriend, Damian Gray of Silverton, were arrested as part of the investigation. Police said Poole, a Cincinnati Police dispatch supervisor, allowed her live-in boyfriend to store several hundred pounds of marijuana inside her home.

Poole was charged with possession of drugs, a first-degree felony, as well as permitting drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony.

The remaining 400 pounds was destined for distribution in the Butler County area, according to Jones.

Arrested in Fairfield and charged with felony possession of drugs and felony trafficking in drugs were:

One suspect is believed to be an illegal immigrant from Mexico previously deported in October, Jones said.

Police also searched a Fairfield residence and seized cash, guns and cars, according to the sheriff’s office.

Jones said Mexican cartels responsible for the marijuana shipments are now turning to other drugs for money.

“The price of cocaine went up substantially two days after the presidential election. We have also been told the Mexican cartel is starting to relook at the marijuana coming across the border because of the states legalizing marijuana and they are starting to grow more poppies,” Jones said. “We are told they are going to be doing more heroin, more meth, and more cocaine … until then the marijuana is still here.”