A Belmont County business owner is charged with a third-degree felony count of drug trafficking after officials searched three Belmont County businesses suspected of selling synthetic marijuana.

Debbie DeAngelis, 58, is the owner of The Trading Post on Main Street in Bridgeport. Officials said at a news conference that she was arrested on Wednesday after a controlled buy and is being held without bond.

On Wednesday, federal, state and local agencies' agents executed search warrants at The Trading Post, the Shadyside Party Center on Central Avenue in Shadyside and Bob's Cheap Smokes on National Road in St. Clairsville.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests and charges are pending. Those suspects were not named and it was not immediately clear if they are other business owners.

"There are more (suspects) on our radar, and if they come into the investigation with the Drug Task Force, we're going to go full-speed," Sheriff Dave Lucas said.

They said the Attorney General's Office is looking into the possibility of closing down the business permanently. Belmont County Prosecutor Chris Berhalter said warnings were given to businesses before the raid, but some didn't listen.

"This operation is not over and we will continue to go after this problem," Berhalter said.

Thursday's press conference was held at the Belmont County Sheriff's Office. The one overwhelming theme was the fact that police take synthetic drugs seriously and they want them out of the county. Police said it's a new problem in the county and, after one of the most successful raids in Belmont County, they said they want it stopped now.

Berhalter said law enforcement officials have noticed an increase in violent crime in the area, which he said is directly related to synthetic drugs. Officials said they have also seen users with serious additions and others who've suffered seizures.

Chief John McFarland of Belmont County Drug Task Force said, "Some people think the almighty dollar is more important than the health and well-being of the residents here in the Ohio Valley, and that has to stop. You are hurting people. You are hurting kids."

According to Lucas, officials confiscated more than 16,000 packets of synthetic marijuana. The substance was sold under the names Aloha, OMG, Fairly Legal and other names. Lucas said the drugs have a street value of around $300,000.

"These products are marketed as a legal product. However, they are not. They contain dangerous and banned substances," said Chris Berhalter. "They are not a safe alternative to anything. In fact, they are just as addictive and dangerous as heroin and LSD."

Agents with the DEA, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, sheriff's office and Belmont County Drug Task Force also found 17 firearms and a "substantial amount of cash."

After Wednesday's raids, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office released a statement saying, "This is not the first time we've warned business owners to stop selling synthetic drugs or face the consequences, yet some store owners continue to knowingly profit off the addictive nature of these substances. Today's raids just go to show that if you are selling these drugs, law enforcement will find out."

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PREVIOUS NEWS9 COVERAGE:

-March 20, 2013: DEA, BCI, local agencies search Belmont Co. stores for synthetic marijuana