Ohio Man Arrested After Accidentally Sending Meth Through Bank Drive-Thru Tube During Routine Transaction, Sheriff Says

WOODSFIELD, OH — A routine banking errand turned into an unexpected criminal investigation after an Ohio man accidentally sent a baggie of methamphetamine through a bank’s drive-thru tube, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Bank Employee Discovers Meth in Drive-Thru Deposit

The incident happened on Dec. 3, when an employee at a bank in Woodsfield — a small town about 120 miles east of Columbus — contacted authorities after finding a “crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine” inside a baggie sent through the pneumatic tube system.

Deputies later confirmed through testing that the substance was methamphetamine, prompting a search for the individual responsible for the unusual “deposit.”

Investigators Say the Meth Was Sent Accidentally

According to the sheriff’s office, the sender — 46-year-old Jason G. Smith — allegedly transmitted the drugs inadvertently while conducting what was otherwise a normal banking transaction.

Authorities later located Smith in Wayne Township, where he was detained by officers with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Deputies were then called to the scene.

A police K-9 reportedly helped uncover additional suspected drugs and drug-related items inside Smith’s truck.

Suspect Taken Into Custody; Charges Not Yet Listed

Smith was transported to the Monroe County Jail, but as of the time of the sheriff’s announcement, specific charges had not yet appeared in the county’s public court docket.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has not released further details, and requests for additional comment were still pending at publication time.

Sheriff Issues Public Warning About Illicit Drug Disposal

In the press release, Sheriff Derek Norman used the bizarre arrest as an opportunity to promote safe drug disposal—while poking fun at the circumstances.

“Illegal drugs don’t belong in bank drive-thrus — but they can be turned in at the Sheriff’s Office. No charges, no handcuffs, just help. We’d much rather safely take them off the street than see another unexpected ‘deposit,’” Norman said.

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