January 14, 2025, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — On National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today is reflecting on the progress made by his office in 2024 to fight the scourge throughout the state. “Awareness is critical in educating the public that human trafficking happens anywhere and everywhere,” Yost said. “We’ve been focusing on demand reduction because without a buyer there is no human trafficking.” Each year on Jan. 11, Yost’s office joins in solidary with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and many others to mark National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The observance is also known as Wear Blue Day, a chance for advocates in the fight against human trafficking to outwardly express that support by photographing themselves and others wearing blue and sharing those photos on social media (with the hashtag #WearBlueDay).

Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Law enforcement task forces organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) confiscated more than $92 million in illegal drugs in 2024, along with 560 firearms and $4.7 million in currency, Ohio Attorney General Yost announced today. “The number of illegal drugs and weapons taken off our streets this year is impressive thanks to our drug task forces, but the true measure of their success is the countless lives spared from overdoses and addiction,” Yost said. “I’m grateful to every sheriff and police chief, along with our federal partners, who fuel our efforts to thwart drug trafficking.” Under AG Yost’s leadership, OOCIC task forces have seized more than 288,000 prescription pills, 1,154 pounds of fentanyl, 1,994 pounds of cocaine and 2,334 firearms since 2019.

December 17, 2024, Press Release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of Ohio: CLEVELAND – Ronald Rendon-Luna, 37, a Mexican national residing in Painesville, Ohio, has been sentenced to 151 months in prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Lioi, after he pled guilty to engaging in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and being an alien in possession of firearms. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

November 13, 2024, Press Release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of Ohio: AKRON, Ohio – Seth Hoover, age 39, of Republic, Ohio, was sentenced to 35 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after being found guilty at a jury trial of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Mercy Health St. Rita's is making information about what resources are available to assist in the fight against human trafficking. They are inviting local agencies, organizations, and community members to an educational symposium titled "Liberty Unchained: Breaking Bonds, Restoring Hope." It's an effort to get everyone on the same page for what to look for, the signs of, and how to handle instances of human trafficking.

August 8, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ongoing commercial vehicle interdiction efforts along the I-70 corridor by the Central Ohio OOCIC/HIDTA Major Drug Interdiction Task Force and the Ohio State Highway Patrol have led to two recent significant seizures, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.