The Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and Wood County Sheriff's Intradiction Team says Rasha Neff of Columbus and Amanda Starkey of Parkersburg had been staying at the Parkersburg Red Roof Inn motel for several days. That stay ended late Wednesday night, when task force agents arrested the pair, also confiscating quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana.

"Every time we make an arrest of an individual who is from out of state," says Jeff Sandy, Wood County Sheriff, "those individuals let it be known that we are doing our best in Wood County to keep the drugs out of the area from the larger metropolitan areas."

While seemingly, drug traffic can come from anywhere, local law enforcement authorities say it usually comes from the Ohio side of the river, and particularly from Ohio's largest cities. That's because of their proximity to the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Sheriff Sandy says drugs generally come into the eastern part of West Virginia from Erie and other cities in Pennsylvania.

"We have an influx of individuals from Columbus and Zanesville, Ohio who feel Wood County is a place to come to make money," the sheriff says. "Drugs are more expensive in Wood County, due to the transportation costs from Columbus and Zanesville, and many individuals believe they can increase their profits by coming to Wood County."

Both Neff and Starkey are now being held in the West Central Regional Jail, charged with possession with intent to deliver both crack cocaine and marijuana.