Published: August 16, 2009 09:58 pm      

Traffic stop turns into drug bust

‘Sunshine Pipeline’ tagged after finding pain pills, cash

A routine traffic stop in South Shore Saturday night resulted in the arrest of a woman from Columbus who was carrying Oxycontin and Oxycodone pills and more than $1,200 in cash in addition to ledgers, notes and maps detailing her alleged transactions for pharmaceutical narcotics from pain clinics in Florida and Ohio.

South Shore Officer Bill Sword, assisted by Deputy Bob Stewart, reported he stopped a vehicle for speeding and noticed a small pill container on the car’s dashboard. Upon further inspection, pills were found in the container as well as in the possession of passenger Rita Monroe, 55, of Colombus.

“Upon investigation evidence revealed a long term drug run known as the ‘Sunshine Pipeline.’ Ledgers and notes, as well as maps, kept by Monroe showed evidence of frequent visits to Florida pain clinics, as well as Columbus pain clinics,” according to a statement by the South Shore Police Department.

Monroe was taken to the Greenup County Detention Center on charges of trafficking controlled substance, as well as prescription of controlled substance not in proper container. Charges are pending for two other individuals from Columbus who were also occupants of the vehicle.