CINCINNATI -- A local money-laundering operation that allegedly shipped millions of dollars to the Middle East has been stopped with the arrest of the group's alleged ringleader and more than 20 other people, officials announced Thursday.

Video

Alleged Ringleader Arrested, Others Indicted Neighbors React Expert Reacts Details: Suspects ArrestedStores Raided Slideshow: Suspects & Locations

Omran Saleh (pictured, below) was among 23 people arrested, most of whom are of Palestinian descent, Thursday, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's Brian Hamrick reported.

According to officials, Saleh, who has a home in Canton, in northeast Ohio, and an apartment in North Fairmount, led a group of people who paid drug addicts to steal specific items. The items were then sold in 10 convenience stores owned or operated by Saleh, Hamrick reported.

Nine of the stores are in Cincinnati -- including Westwood, Over-the-Rhine and North Fairmount -- and the 10th store is in the Canton area, officials said.

"It's an extensive operation," Cincinnati police Chief Tom Streicher said at a news conference Thursday.

Added Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen: "This is the thickest and biggest indictment I think I've ever seen."

Saleh's home in Canton was raided Thursday as well.

Saleh, who is Palestinian, and his partners placed orders for specific items to be stolen, then repackaged and resold the goods, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro said.

After the items were sold, the money allegedly was laundered and shipped overseas. Investigators have accounted for $37 million during the past two years, much of which they believe was shipped to the Middle East.

Among the items allegedly stolen by the group were dozens of cases of cigarettes, Sudafed, Tylenol, Crest White Strips, malt liquor, glucose blood test kits and glucose blood test strips.

The charges filed against the suspects included engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with government records, money laundering and receiving stolen property.

Details about who received the money were not released, but police believe the money may have been used to fund terrorist plots.

"Some of the money (might) have been used to facilitate terrorist activity," Streicher said.

Elizabeth Frierson, a local Middle East expert, told WLWT Thursday that packaging the money to send overseas wouldn't be difficult.

"You can break it down in small packets, send it through different bank accounts, perhaps cycle it through private foundations as donations and then send it on," she said. "Also, there are lots of migrant workers throughout the world who send money home."

A local woman who said she often shops at one of the stores that's been shut down said she's curious about what happened.

"I'm surprised because they never gave me no free cigarettes," LaTonya Suggs said. "I'm happy they're closed down."

The arrests came after a two-year investigation led by Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.

The stores in question have been padlocked and closed down, Hamrick reported.

Stay tuned to WLWT Eyewitness News and refresh this ChannelCincinnati.com page for updates to this developing story.