Dawnya Ward
The local Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested two suspects Monday, closing out a drug trafficking investigation in Columbus.
Dawnya Ward, 51, and Larry Ward Jr., 56, both of 1520 Union St., Columbus, were identified as suspected retail distributors of various illegal controlled substances, according to Columbus Police Department Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for JNET.
Larry Ward is being initially charged with dealing in methamphetamine as a Level 2 felony and dealing in a narcotic drug as a Level 2 felony.
Dawnya Ward is being initially charged with dealing in methamphetamine as a Level 2 felony and dealing in a narcotic drug as a Level 2 felony.
Both are being held without bond in the Bartholomew County Jail.
JNET obtained a search warrant to search the Ward’s residence in the 1500 block of Union Street, Harris said. Upon execution of the search warrant, Dawnya and Larry Ward were taken into custody by Columbus police officers.
During the search of the residence, suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana, K2/Spice, drug paraphernalia, and digital scales were located, Harris said.
Of particular concern were 188 suspected counterfeit Oxycodone 30 mg pills which were located, Harris said. The counterfeit pills were small blue round pills with “M” imprinted on one side and “30” imprinted on the other side. The pills later field tested presumptively positive as fentanyl. The total street value for the pills is approximately $3,700, Harris said.
DEA Laboratory testing reveals that six out of 10 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills contain a potentially fatal dose of fentanyl.
During a post-Miranda warning interview with Dawnya Ward, she reportedly admitted to selling hundreds of the counterfeit oxycodone pills, Harris said.
Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid pressed into fake pills or cut into heroin, cocaine or other street drugs to drive addition. It is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.
The DEA has created the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign which is sending out federal agents to meet with organizations such as JNET and local law enforcement to bring awareness about fentanyl-laced pills.
Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting has said the overwhelming majority of drug overdose deaths in the Columbus area involve fentanyl, although most fatal overdoses involve multiple substances.
