Police find $6.8 million in marijuana hidden in strawberries
STMG Wire November 29, 2012 5:18PM
Martin Rosas, 41, of the 1200 block of East 147th Street in Dolton, is charged with possessing more than 5000 grams of cannabis. / Photo courtesy of Chicago Police
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Updated: November 29, 2012 7:03PM
A south suburban man is facing felony charges after police found thousands of pounds of cannabis hidden in buckets of frozen strawberries in a rental truck he was driving.
Martin Rosas, of the 1200 block of East 147th Street in Dolton, was charged with possessing more than 5000 grams of cannabis, a felony, according to a release from police News Affairs.
Police launched an investigation after learning of individuals involved in narcotics trafficking on the Southeast Side, the release said.
Officers surveilling Rosas’ rental vehicle learned 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, the release said.
Officers found more cannabis and a handgun at Dolton’s residence, the release said. They also found hundreds of buckets of frozen strawberries and cannabis at a South Side warehouse.
In total, police found more than 2,500 pounds of cannabis in more than 1,000 buckets of frozen strawberries, the release said.
The cannabis was planned for distribution to major gang factions on the Southeast Side, the release said.
Police estimate the drugs have a street value of $6.8 million.
Rosas is expected to appear in Central Bond Court Thursday.
