CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Four Chinese companies and 25 people, including two Ohioans, have been indicted on multiple international drug trafficking charges in Ohio’s Southern District Court.

Eric Payne and Auriyon Rayford, both from the Dayton area, were arrested Aug. 22 for their alleged involvement in a Chinese narcotics ring, FBI agents announced Wednesday during a press conference.

According to a 20-page indictment, Payne was trafficking narcotics and buying “cut,” a mixing agent that maximizes the yield and potency of fentanyl.

He obtained the substances from four Chinese chemical companies that claimed to be legitimate online pharmacies:

Guangzhou Tengyue Chemical Company

Guangzhou Wanjiang Biotechnology Company

Hebei Hongjun New Material Technology Company

Hebei Feilaimi Technolog

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