PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — A traffic stop on US 52 in Portsmouth late Wednesday night led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of 238 grams of suspected methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl with an estimated street value of approximately $9,000, the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office said.
A deputy stopped a black Chevrolet travelling westbound on US 52 near Cole Avenue at approximately 11:12 p.m. after records showed the registered owner had outstanding arrest warrants. The registered owner was not in the vehicle, but the male passenger was found to have an active warrant through the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office.
During a search of the vehicle following the passenger’s arrest, deputies found a plastic bag on the passenger side containing a substantial amount of suspected methamphetamine. The passenger later told deputies he had purchased a half-pound of methamphetamine and directed them to a black box in the back seat, which was found to contain suspected crack cocaine and fentanyl.
The driver was detained separately. After she was removed from a patrol cruiser, a deputy found a silver container in the area where she had been seated containing multiple small baggies with a white powdery substance. Deputies also seized $1,264 in cash from the driver, which they suspect is proceeds from drug trafficking.
Corey D. Bertram, 31, of Garrison, Kentucky, was charged with two counts of aggravated possession of drugs — one a first-degree felony, one a fifth-degree felony — and aggravated trafficking in drugs, a first-degree felony.
Sara M. Lansing, 29, of Portsmouth, was charged with aggravated trafficking in drugs, a first-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
Both appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court for arraignment on Thursday.
Anyone with information on drug activity in the area can contact the Scioto County task force tip line at 740-354-5656 or email [email protected]. Tips are anonymous.