By Tony Gordon

Daily Herald Legal Affairs Writer
September 07, 2002

Nearly $6.5 million worth of marijuana was destroyed earlier this week when Lake County narcotics agents found it growing in a field near Wadsworth.

Police from the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group discovered 4,325 pot plants growing in a field north of Route 173 and east of Route 41 about 11 a.m. Thursday.

MEG supervisor Chad Roszkowiak said most of the crop was well on its way to market.

"The plants ranged in height from 1 foot to 8 feet tall, with the greater majority of them being approximately 6 feet," he said. "The plants were mature and were obviously being well taken care of. They would have soon been ready for harvest."

MEG agents received a tip the plants were growing in the area, and cut them down and burned them on the spot, Roszkowiak said.

They also have information about who may have planted and cared for the plants, he said, and are continuing their investigation.

Police estimate each plant was capable of producing marijuana worth $1,500 on the street, bringing the total value of the find to $6.48 million.

Assistant State's Attorney Dan Shanes, chief of the drug prosecution division, said the seizure may represent the largest single confiscation of marijuana in the county's history.

Sheriff Gary Del Re, whose department is among the many that contribute investigators and funds to MEG, praised the work that led to the discovery.

"It is always a very good day when police are able to get drugs before they even get to the street, and this was a significant interdiction," Del Re said. "The work of MEG in this case is another fine example of how things happen when police agencies pool their resources and work toward a common goal."