Two Men Charged in $10 Million Drug Bust Involving 50 Kilos of Cocaine in Illinois DuPage County, Illinois State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and the Illinois State Police announced today the arrests of two (2) men in connection with the largest drug bust in DuPage County, Illinois history. In addition, the investigation resulted in the seizure of 50 kilos of cocaine, with an estimated street value of over $10 million. Last night, Illinois State Police arrested Ramon Lopez, 27 (d.o.b. 9/13/75) of 2100 Harvard in Elgin and Jesus Medrano, 32 (d.o.b. 6/11/70) of 3037 Bright in Franklin Park. Each were each charged with one (1) count of Unlawful Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance.

As a result of a long-term investigation by the Phoenix Police Department, it was learned that a large amount of cocaine was to be delivered to DuPage County, Illinois. On Thursday evening, January 9th, the Illinois State Police Drug Interdiction Unit, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMEG) and the Downers Grove, Illinois Police Department, arrested Lopez and Medrano in DuPage County, Illinois. The defendants had 50 kilos of cocaine in their possession at the time of the arrest. The two were driving Medrano’s car northbound on 355 just north of Butterfield Road at the time of the arrest.

As a result, DuPage County, Illinois prosecutors approved one (1) count of Unlawful Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, a Super Class X felony. If found guilty, the two face penalties of 15-60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

While law enforcement officers here in DuPage County, Illinois were arresting these two defendants, Phoenix Police Officers arrested two other individuals, netting an additional 87 kilograms of cocaine. In total, this investigation resulted in the arrests of four (4) men and the recovery of one hundred thirty seven (137) kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of $34 million.

Lopez and Medrano were transported to the DuPage County, Illinois Jail in Wheaton and appeared in bond court this morning where Judge Richard Lucas set their bond at $10 million, full cash.

Illinois State’s Attorney Birkett thanked the Illinois State Police, the DEA, DuMEG, and the Phoenix and Downers Grove Police Departments for their outstanding work in the investigation of this case. In addition, he thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Joe Ruggiero, the Supervisor of the Narcotics Unit of his office, for his efforts in this case.

The defendants are next scheduled to appear in court on February 3rd in courtroom 4014 before Judge Kathryn Creswell.

Members of the public are reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.