On September 2nd, 2022, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) arrested two dozen perps in a months-long drug investigation. A total of 25 people were arrested in three separate takedowns, but only 3 were held without bond. The CPD arrests were allegedly involved in operating various open-air drug markets on the West Side. Keep reading for the full scoop.
Chicago Drug Bust Arrests 25: What Happened?
According to the Chicago Police Department, more than two dozen individuals were involved in operating various open-air drug markets on the West Side, specifically in the Pilsen, Austin, and Little Village neighborhoods. Seized in this drug bust were nine vehicles, two guns, and $116,000 worth of cocaine (900 grams). Officers also recovered $86,000 worth of heroin, $4,000 of marijuana, $1,700 of MDMA pills, and about $130,000 of cash.
The individuals were charged with manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance and/or drug conspiracy. These CPD arrests were done individually. All of this was the result of multiple months-long operations called “Operation Shattered Forks” and “Operation Casa de Diablo.”
These investigations focused on Chicago gang activity in the 10th and 12th police districts, which are located mainly between Damen and California Avenues and between 18th and 25th streets.1 These two dozen CPD arrests were made in the third gang investigation, “Operation Double Stack,” which focused on the 15th District in Austin.
What Drugs Were Involved?
To give some background on these substances, both cocaine and heroin are illegal to use, possess, and sell in the U.S., while marijuana laws have fluctuated as more states legalize the substance. However, marijuana is still illegal to purchase, grow, and sell in certain states.
When it comes to their side effects, each of these drugs impacts the central nervous system (CNS) differently and therefore produces different side effects. For instance, cocaine is a CNS stimulant that increases nerve activity in the brain as well as mood. It targets chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine, causing them to flood the brain as the drug blocks reabsorption, producing an intense and euphoric high.
Heroin, on the other hand, is an opioid or a narcotic which has a more sedative impact on the CNS. Not only do opioids block pain signaling and produce relaxation, but they also increase dopamine levels in the CNS, causing euphoria and pleasure.
Then we have marijuana, which is a dried bunch of leaves from the Cannabis Sativa plant. Also known as weed or cannabis, marijuana is most often smoked but can also be baked into foods or used in tea. The main psychoactive ingredient in weed – THC – is what produces psychoactive side effects like hallucinations, a high, and sometimes paranoia and anxiety.
All of these drugs are addicting and can lead to severe physical and psychological dependence and addiction. If someone you know has become addicted to any of these substances, our Illinois drug rehab offers various levels of addiction treatment that can help.
Help for Addiction
While news of drug-related criminal activity can seem so separate from your everyday life, drug busts like this one show that drugs can cause a problem right in your neighborhood. Additionally, if you or someone you love is battling drug addiction or alcoholism, our Chicago rehab is here to help.
Whether you live in the area or are traveling from out of state, our Illinois addiction treatment can set you up for long-term sobriety. Call Banyan Treatment Centers today at 888-280-4763 to get started.
Source:
Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago police make 25 arrests in a gang and drug busts in Little Village, Pilsen, Austin
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