Ohio Investigative Unit

Ohio Investigative Unit
A component of the Ohio State Highway Patrol

OIU agents are fully-sworn, plainclothes peace officers responsible for enforcing Ohio’s alcohol, tobacco and food stamp fraud laws.

Agents investigate suspected illegal activity in liquor permit premises (bars, restaurants, carryouts, etc.). Investigations may be related to locations operating without a permit or to drug, gambling, counterfeiting or property crimes. Agents also investigate the illegal manufacture of alcohol, as well as businesses and individuals involved in food stamp fraud.

Related activities may include compliance checks to ensure liquor permit premises are not selling alcohol or tobacco products to underage individuals or trace-back investigations to determine whether alcohol was illegally sold or provided to an underage or already-intoxicated person involved in an alcohol-related crash or incident.