Indiana State Police Recover $2M in Cash, $10M in Cocaine

Updated: Thursday, 22 Sep 2011, 6:16 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 22 Sep 2011, 6:16 PM CDT
Sun-Times Media Wire

Chicago - Seven people, including three from Chicago, were charged after Indiana State Police found nearly $2 million in cash and $10 million in cocaine in a northwest Indiana home.

On Sept. 7, members of the ISP Drug Enforcement Section, assisted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents executed a search warrant and found a large amount of cash and numerous vehicles, including two vehicles and a semi trailer with hidden compartments used to store narcotics, a release from ISP said.

Overall, the searches netted $1.84 million in cash, 18 bales of cocaine, a handgun, rifle and bullet-proof vest. The cocaine had a wholesale value of more than $600,000 and an estimated street value in excess of $10 million, the release said.

The money and property were seized by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security to be forfeited. The vehicles were seized by the ISP for possible forfeiture by Newton County, the release said.

Seven people were charged, but one remains at-large. In custody are Gabriel Martinez Mendoza of DeMotte, Ind.,; Emilio Diaz of Los Angeles, Calif.; Oscar Velarde of Mexico; Mario Lopez of Chicago; Martina Lopez of Chicago; and Francisco Cervantes of Chicago. Still being sought is Jorge Diaz of Los Angeles.

All seven are charged with dealing cocaine over three grams, possession of cocaine over three grams within 1,000 feet of a youth program center, and conspiracy to deal cocaine over three grams. All the charges are Class A felonies, the release said.

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