Man Charged With Hiding Pot In Frozen Strawberries
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A south suburban man faces felony drug charges after police found more than 2,500 pounds of cannabis hidden in buckets of frozen strawberries in a rental truck.
Martin Rosas of the 1200 block of East 147th Street in Dolton was charged with possessing more than 5000 grams of cannabis, according to a statement from Chicago Police.
Police launched an investigation into narcotics trafficking on the Southeast Side, and began surveillance o Rosas' rental vehicle after learning the cargo was frozen strawberries, but the truck was not refrigerated.
Officers approached Rosas, who cooperated with the investigation, and a Chicago Police K9 unit detected cannabis inside the buckets of fruit, according to police.
Officers found more cannabis and a handgun at his Dolton's residence, and also found hundreds of buckets of frozen strawberries and more cannabis at a South Side warehouse.
In total, police found more than 2,500 pounds of cannabis in more than 1,000 buckets of strawberries. The pot was planned for distribution to major gang factions on the Southeast Side, according to police.
Police estimate the drugs have a street value of $6.8 million.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
