Ohio is one of 31 states where drug smuggling has been directly linked to Franklin and St. Lawrence counties, Champagne said.

NUMEROUS TRIPS

The first transaction in this investigation occurred Sept. 14, 2007, and the last on June 14, 2009, and included 45 separate trips made between the two states, using Avis rental cars and coordinating cellular-telephone calls, investigators say.

Champagne said at least 18 of the loads, which had a street value of $500,000 each, came directly from Franklin County in one year, with the entire smuggling operation having a value of $18 million to $27 million.

SATURDAY STOP

The DA said Schmid and Sorin showed up in St. Regis Falls on Saturday nights, where the pot was allegedly vacuum-sealed in bags by the Frasers.

The Ohio couple would leave the next day, taking with them two or three hockey-equipment duffel bags stuffed with the pot, Champagne said.

By renting the cars in New York, where the vehicles carry New York plates, the smugglers from Ohio blended in with all other drivers, prosecutors said.

ORGANIZED CRIME

The case started in late 2007, when authorities with the cities of Beachwood and Reminderville began investigating Russian organized crime in the Cleveland area and learned groups were receiving large amounts of pot from Simonds.

After his murder, Ohio authorities continued to track the crime network and provided updates to both district attorneys and to the Plattsburgh field office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Champagne said that within a short time, the new delivery system was established. Earlier this year, investigators from Ohio came to the North Country to help the authorities identify the dealers and formulate a plan to dismantle the smuggling network.