Pot-plant nursery yields millions in narcotics, guns in Berwyn

November 4, 2009 Marijuana plants seized in big Berwyn drug raid Large, flourishing cannabis plants – 355 of them – were recovered by Berwyn Police and Cook County narcotics agents from three rooms in a house in the 2200 block of Ridgeland. The plants, when harvested and sold on the street, were estimated to be worth about $290,000. Also found in the house were cocaine worth $2.1 million; $61,000 worth of heroin, half a million dollars worth of MDMA(“Ecstasy”) and $660,000 worth of Vicodin. The setup was described by Berwyn tactical coordinator, Detective Roger Montoro, as a “pot factory”. Charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver all of the above was 26-year-old Richard Medina, 2232 Ridgeland. Berwyn police chief William Kushner called the pot-growing operation one of the most elaborate ever seen in Cook County. The multi-flat residence was equipped with many large portable air-conditioning units, fans and extra ductwork designed to control the climate for optimum growth and prevent the strong scent of fresh marijuana from being detected outside the house. Police recovered a calendar on which someone had marked precise cannabis plant-care instructions; dates were marked for fertilization and transplantation of individual plants. Guns of various calibers—including 3 Uzis—were also recovered, including two with obliterated serial numbers. Police said they had been aware of the house since June and conducted the investigation the resulted in the bust over a period of about a week. Deputy Berwyn police chief Joseph Drury credited the success of the operation to Berwyn’s newly reorganized tactical unit, also praising the assistance of Cook County narcotics officers whose deputy chief, Kevin Ruel, said provide “fresh faces” for similar undercover work all over the county. Drury noted now-expanded tactical unit had executed 12 search warrants and recovered 30 guns just since August. Multi-tasking According to Montoro, the search warrant for the bust was brought before a judge on the evening of November 2nd. That evening, Montoro, Kushner, Drury and several other police commanders held an all-Berwyn Neighborhood Watch meeting and gave a presentation on this type of investigation, even as they stayed in telephone touch with undercover officers and prepared to move in on the drug house.

November 6, 2009 A cooperative effort between Berwyn police and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents resulted in a drug raid on a Berwyn residence just days after an unusually large pot factory was uncovered in the same neighborhood. Officers descended on a residence in the 2500 block of Highland between 9 and 11 AM today and seized more than 80 pounds of marijuana, three ounces of cocaine, and a machine press of the type used to label marijuana bales before distribution. According to police, the pot was valued at betwen $50,000 and 60,000. The street value of the recovered cocaine was estimated to be betwen $50,000 and $75,000. Charges are still pending and the investigation is ongoing.

This is what happens when you rent to just anybody.
This wouldn't have happened before 1993.

Looks like the agricultural economy is alive and well in Berwyn.

If weed were legalized. Would the criminal networks lose a source of income?

We had at one time a prohibition on booze it proved to be ineffective.

Many police would be freed up to enforce other laws if weed were legal, right?

rico wrote:

This is what happens when you rent to just anybody.
This wouldn't have happened before 1993.

No, it probably wouldn't have. So what would you do to change it? How would you make it so the landlords do not rent to just anybody?

Present-Berwynite wrote:

<quoted text>
No, it probably wouldn't have. So what would you do to change it? How would you make it so the landlords do not rent to just anybody?

What did they do before that had Berwyn nice?
If it wasn't broke why did they change it?

Present-Berwynite wrote:

<quoted text>
No, it probably wouldn't have. So what would you do to change it? How would you make it so the landlords do not rent to just anybody?

For its small foot print (4 sq miles) Berwyn has a lot of apartment buildings. Many of these bldgs were owner occupied and nicely kept.

Enter the investors and managers, these folks tend to "milk" the buildings for profits and neglect maintenance.
This could be addressed by building and safety code enforcement. But, it requires dilligence and consistency on the part of the City.

Conversion to condos has helped somewhat but the economic downturn has stifled this effort.

The owners of the properties are the ones who need to be confronted. Its okay to be an investor and profit from ownership. Its not okay to milk the building and to hell with the community.

The lure of section 8 is too intoxicating for some owners whom often neglect the property.

Does Berwyn have an adequate staff of trained inspectors? If not could this function be contracted out to private industry?

In Chicago don't they put section 8 in condos too?