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Police seized $7,500, a car and several pounds of marijuana Monday following a month-long, three-county investigation.
Four alleged drug dealers are in custody following an afternoon drug bust on Warsaw's north side and one near Cromwell.
Police units from the Warsaw Police Department and the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department converged on a Lyon Street address after two undercover agents purchased 2 pounds of marijuana. Police seized the alleged dealers' car and $2,200.
Authorities report two men were arrested in the initial Warsaw buy, and a third was apprehended when he returned to the apartment later yesterday.
Booked into Kosciusko County Jail at 1:50 p.m. Monday were Jose Molina, 23, of 411 Lyon St., Warsaw, and Cirio Flores, 22, same address. Both men were preliminarily charged with dealing marijuana.
At 3:40 p.m., police booked Luis A. Molina, 28, of 117B Hickory Street, Warsaw. Molina was preliminarily charged with dealing and possession of marijuana.
The fourth arrest in connection with the investigation came as a result of a police search of the Cromwell home of Jose Alberto Soto. At Soto's mobile home at 3757 N. CR 1900W, officers found $5,340 and packing material that had held approximately 50 pounds of marijuana, but did not find much of the drug.
Soto has multiple aliases, according to police.
"We thought that maybe we were going to run into a lot up there (Cromwell)," said Warsaw Corporal Mike Speigle.
Authorities report the packing material had laundry detergent, fabric softener and packing peanuts all with a pot residue. The detergent and softener were used to mask the pot.
Investigators expect more arrests and seizures to follow.
"They were trying to set up 5-pound deals at a time and we just didn't have the cash," said Speigle.
Police report a similar bust occurred at a nearby trailer last year found packing material indicating 50-70 pounds of marijuana.
The bust was the result of a month-long cooperative investigation. Involved in the investigation were WPD, Kosciusko County Special Operation officers, KCSD, North Manchester and Plymouth police departments, and the Marshall County Sheriff's Department.
Also assisting in the investigation were the IMAGE drug task force, Noble County Sheriff's Department and the Cromwell Police Department.
The Ligonier canine unit assisted in the Cromwell search, while the Kosciusko unit searched the Warsaw location.
