Record Amount Of Drugs Seized Last Year In Lake County: Sheriff

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Calling it an "extraordinary" effort, Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg is praising his department's Special Investigations Group for seeing a record amount of drugs in 2024. According to police, SIG opened 156 criminal investigations, leading to the arrest of 80 drug traffickers, gun traffickers, and human traffickers.

LCSO said the team and their federal partners seized more than $24 million street value worth of trafficked drugs, over 130 illegally possessed firearms, and 58 machine gun conversion devices —many of which were in the possession of convicted felons.

"These results represent safer communities, disrupted criminal enterprises, and lives saved," Idleburg said. "I am so proud of the partnerships we have with both our federal and local law enforcement partners. These relationships truly make our community safer, and I could not be any prouder of the work done by those assigned to SIG."

SIG is the only High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area-funded initiative in Lake County The task force is made up of local and federal law enforcement investigators who collaborate to dismantle drug trafficking organizations, money laundering operations, and criminal enterprises.

LCSO highlighted the following drug seizures from 2024 in a news release:

• 173+ pounds of methamphetamine
• 34+ pounds of powder cocaine
• 950+ grams of heroin
• 300+ grams of crack cocaine
• 480+ grams of psilocybin mushrooms
• 100+ pounds of illegally trafficked cannabis

According to police, most of these drug seizures took place in Lake County, while some occurred in surrounding collar counties in anticipation that the drugs would be distributed in Lake County.

In addition, SIG rescued 11 human trafficking victims in 2024 and connected them with vital support services through partnerships with local social service providers.