Colorado Springs-Chicago Drug Ring Uncovers Over 140 Pounds Of Marijuana

In a federal and joint police force investigation, authorities have recovered over 140 pounds of marijuana believed to be used for trafficking Colorado Springs-grown drugs to Chicago. The operation reportedly spanned over 100 acres of land in Elbert County and incorporated at least 26 plants.

Four people were arrested in Chicago last Friday on three felony charges apiece: Daniel Haggerty, Matthew Tunzi, Anthony Munizzi and Mary Miller were all charged with cannabis trafficking, unlawful delivery of cannabis and possession of cannabis. Police have also executed three search warrants in Colorado Springs and Elbert County, according to Colorado Springs police spokeswoman Barbara Miller. During those searches, police seized 140.5 pounds of marijuana and 26 plants concealed by greenhouses and landscaping.

The ages of the people arrested were not disclosed.

The investigation began in March when the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted surveillance on Colorado Springs suspects after learning that marijuana found in Chicago was actually coming from Colorado. The DEA then joined forces with the Colorado Springs Police, Elbert County Sheriff's office, Illinois State Police, and the Metro Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Division.

On Nov. 2, officers conducted a controlled delivery of 50 pounds of marijuana in Chicago, and found the connection to an Elbert County address.

A home on Oro Blanco Drive in Colorado Springs turned up 42 marijuana plants, 3.5 pounds of marijuana, and a facility capable of accommodating 500 marijuana plants. According to a report by the Colorado Springs Gazette, the home is listed to Judith A. Schnur, who has a mailing address in Chicago. The marijuana businesses that have been operating out of the house were registered to Matthew Christopher Schnur, an activist in the local medical marijuana industry. Police told KRDO that Friday was the second time in a month that they had searched the home.

Police say the investigation is still ongoing.

Comments

[my2pesos]

06:24 PM on 11/26/2011

each one of those green blocks weighs approximately 60 kilos.
(each green block has three 20 kilo blocks)
blocks of 20 k are cartel standard sizes.
So this is one of the shYtY3st cartel rings that have been busted....ever,haha

[jeromettaylor]

05:45 PM on 11/25/2011

*** News Update***
The Colorado Springs growers fooled the DEA with the old diversion trick. The federal authorities were spoon-fed a lead to "confiscate" 140.5 lbs of marijuana (along with a few illegal aliens).....meanwhile........18 boxcars and 12 semi-trailers of holiday cheer arrived safely at various Chicago locations! Happy Holidays everyone!

[Acebass]

11:09 PM on 11/22/2011

I hate it when you use stock pictures. That picture is not from this raid 140 pounds of cannabis is smaller than that.

[my2pesos]

06:29 PM on 11/26/2011

I didn't know that they had mexican soilders in colorado and chicago.

[dbrett480]

12:01 PM on 11/10/2011

Most of the drugs in Chicago are controlled by violent street gangs. It's good to crack down on those who supply the gangs that terrorize Chicago.

[Phil DeBowl]

11:27 AM on 11/11/2011

Better yet,take their market away from them by licensing and regulating Cannabis for Adults.

[hextone]

08:39 PM on 11/09/2011

I guess the cartels must have taken the month off or something. Or is tracking down REAL criminals too hard for the DEA?

[Bill Roth]

11:50 AM on 11/09/2011

What is amazing is the photo implies that the guards are protecting 140 lbs. of marijuana. They need to check their scale or that stuff is really, dry.

[Joel Stanley]

10:14 AM on 11/09/2011

Oh God, Oh God, What are we gonna doooo? People are growing,possessing, and even transporting this PLANT and we can't seem to stop it. I tell ya, this place is just goin ta hell in a hand basket.

[1differentdrummer]

05:58 AM on 11/09/2011

And it's such a nice religious town. Legalize, regulate and tax. Nothing else makes sense.

[D-Driller]

03:32 AM on 11/09/2011

This is good to hear. More and more, both national forest as well as state forest lands are becoming havens for drug production, specifically marijuana. Some are "home-grown", small producers, while others are larger-scale Mexican cartel operations. Both tend to be dangerous operations for anyone they see as an "intruder" into their domain, both for innocent hikers/hunters/recreationalists as well as law enforcement and park employees. I find it troubling that so many people support the production of illegal drugs, and give no thought to the type of person who is indeed producing those drugs. I don't care how cool of a stoner you are, if you were to stumble into a cartel operation in the US, you would be killed, without question, by the same people that you are "supporting". I am not against growing marijuana; I am strongly against most of the people who currently grow marijuana, as well as other types of drugs. Maybe the laws need to change - that's fine if they do. But make no mistake - a line needs to be drawn between these human vermin who are running these operations now, and future medicinal or "private' users.

[Phil DeBowl]

10:31 AM on 11/09/2011

I agree with you about these dangerous grows and the people who are willing to protect them.After 70 years of prohibition this is where we are, if you want to put an end to the violence support licensing and regulating Cannabis for adults.

[hextone]

08:36 PM on 11/09/2011

Ya, but remember how it WAS legal to grow in regulated medical marijuana states, including CO, until DEA and Dept. of Justice decided that after 15 years of a functioning regulation system in CA, they were going to shut it down? I mean we WERE moving in the right direction.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/mendocino-county-marijuana-at-risk_n_1085123.html?ref=marijuana

[D-Driller]

09:38 AM on 11/10/2011

No argument about the "flip-flop" in laws it seems. Needs to be decided one way or the other - I don't smoke, so personally I don't care. What I do care about is the fact that, in my view, people who support marijuana use/production are not taking into account the fact that the growers today are not "the stoner dude down the street". They are armed criminals; to support them, to purchase this stuff, is supporting a criminal cartel in most cases. That's a fact.

[d23ratm]

01:15 AM on 11/09/2011

Why the photo of Troops guarding what appears to be bales of something with this story, I guess a photo of 140 lbs of pot wasn't sexy enough to capture someone's attention to portray this as a "MAJOR BUST" ,way to go WAR ON DRUGS WARRIORS!!!!!!

[steven bates]

09:21 AM on 11/09/2011

Way to go Huff post for more deception

[Phil DeBowl]

10:35 AM on 11/09/2011

I didn't even catch that, your right, what's with all the boxes?

[trickjames23]

12:12 AM on 11/09/2011

26 whole plants!! stop the freaking presses.....

[Hank007]

02:51 PM on 11/08/2011

So exactly how long was law enforcement out smarted by a plant?

[N133]

12:43 PM on 11/08/2011

ONE HUNDRED ACRES and TWENTY-SIX PLANTS???? So there was a plant tucked under a rock every four acres. Wow. Kerazy.

In terms of the system right now, it's highly risky (as well as blatantly criminal) to move pot between states and support the black market in other states. It's just so much more harmful that the War on Drugs allows that market to exist in some places and support a slew of things which actually should be criminal (like the despicable gang violence in Chicago, etc.). Anyway, I think the individuals arrested sound like they were making risky money and they're paying the consequence. But that doesn't make the War on Drugs any less short-sighted+heavy-handed+criminally responsible for the violence in places like Chicago and Mexico.

[Charles Mills]

12:37 PM on 11/08/2011

In the name of all that is Holy... NOOOOOOO!!! Gimme back my WEED!!!!!!! Aggghhhhhh I'm gunna cry :(

[UberdanSounds]

10:17 AM on 11/08/2011

Such a giant waste of tax revenue. We could be using that money
for Social Services in our city, county, & state!

Sign this petition & make your voice heard!
http://t.co/9HRxPEsx