The Ohio Investigative Unit is comprised of agents who are fully-certified undercover, plain-clothed peace officers who investigate violations of liquor and tobacco laws, as well as food stamp fraud. The agents have criminal jurisdiction and serve as the sole law enforcement agency in the state with the power to administratively cite a liquor permit premise before the Liquor Control Commission.

As a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Investigative Unit saves Ohio taxpayers millions of dollars a year as it cracks down on those who abuse the system.

Investigative Unit agents are actively involved in working with local police and sheriff’s offices in Ohio’s 88 counties in investigating narcotics, prostitution and gambling violations.

In addition to this work, the Investigative Unit logs hundreds of hours per year with its "The Sober Truth" program, where agents get out and educate Ohio’s youth on the laws and how to stay safe.

The Investigative Unit has a long history of protecting Ohio citizens:

When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the Liquor Control Act mandated state-controlled liquor sales through the Division of Liquor Control’s Enforcement Section. The Enforcement Section's duties included conducting investigations at licensed and unlicensed liquor sales locations throughout Ohio.

In 1984, the Food Stamp Enforcement Unit, under the direction of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, was created to investigate and control the illegal sale of food stamp benefits. In 1992, this division was transferred to the Department of Human Services. In 1995, the Unit was transferred to the Department of Public Safety.

In July 1999, Liquor Enforcement merged with the Food Stamp Unit within the Department of Public Safety and was renamed the Ohio Investigative Unit. Investigative Unit agents were given the authority to investigate tobacco violations throughout the state in 2001.

Click here for a list of enforcement offices.