Two Men Charged In $80 Million Cocaine Seizure

JOLIET (STNG) -- An investigation into possible drug dealing at a southwest suburban building led to charges against a Joliet and a Chicago man Tuesday after police recovered 400 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $80 million on Monday.

Luis Fernandez, with a last known address is in Joliet, and Edgar Lopez, 27, of 3035 S. Christina in Chicago, are each charged with possession with intent to distribute and are being held in the Will County Adult Detention Facility, according to a release from Will County Sheriff’s police.

The Will County Gang Suppression Unit had been watching 3031 State St. in unincorporated Lockport Township for weeks after receiving a tip about possible drug dealing, the release said.

On Monday, deputies observed a silver tow truck inside the bay of the building and saw Lopez loading boxes into the vehicle. Police stopped the truck and noticed Lopez acting nervously. When questioned he said he had been smoking marijuana, the release said.

Officers looked in the truck and found four boxes in the cab marked with meat company labels, but actually containing cocaine -- a total of 40 kilos, the release said.

Deputies then drove back to the area where the truck left and observed four people in the building. After obtaining consent to search, police discovered an additional 329 kilos in a 1992 Chevrolet Suburban, the release said. An additional nine kilos were found in a garbage can and one more kilo in a bathroom.

Lopez and Fernandez each face up to 60 years in prison if convicted. Fernandez had no identification papers but told police he was an illegal alien, the release said.

Members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration have been called to the assist in the investigation.

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