Chicago police said they found two football fields-worth of pot on the Far South Side Tuesday.
Thousands of pot plants were hidden behind the thick brush near the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94), some as large as Christmas trees. Police estimate the plants to have a value of $7-10 million.
The sprawling cannabis fields were spotted by a Chicago Police Department helicopter Tuesday while flying over a stretch of land along the 10600 block of South Stony Island Avenue, not far from the Harborside International Golf Center.
The pilots said they've flown that route to return to their 95th Street hanger many times. But on Tuesday at about noon, the light and the altitude were right - they looked down and saw a green crop pattern.
Chicago police said the find was the biggest marijuana crop ever detected in the city.
Police had to bring in heavy equipment trucks to plow a path from Stony Island at 107th street, about 100 yards to the pot field.
They said the plants averaged 6 ft. in height and they've been growing for four to six months. The two football-field sized crops were arranged in rows and they were ready for harvest.
Between the fields they found a camp, a tarp, a sleeping bag and food that appeared to be purchased this week.
"All efforts in narcotics enforcement is focused on reducing violence," Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said. "Whoever harvests this marijuana is obvious running a large-scale operation, and at the same time the profits from that will be used to purchase firearms. That's where the violence comes in, the competition for the markets."
Police said the massive pot field went undetected because that area has truck traffic, but no pedestrian traffic. A trucker reported seeing someone running from the area right after the helicopters were there.
As of noon Wednesday, police were still trying to determine who owns that land. No arrests had been made.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
Thursday, June 13 2013 1:45 PM EDT2013-06-13 17:45:09 GMT
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 8:54 PM EDT2013-06-20 00:54:40 GMT
A man previously convicted of sex trafficking in Cook County has been charged again, this time for allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota woman and bringing her to Chicago to work in the sex trade.
A man previously convicted of sex trafficking in Cook County has been charged again, this time for allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota woman and bringing her to Chicago to work in the sex trade.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 8:46 PM EDT2013-06-20 00:46:42 GMT
Nine Lafayette Elementary parents and students have occupied a Lafayette Elementary school classroom, in a sit-in style protest against the school's closing.
Nine Lafayette Elementary parents and students have occupied a Lafayette Elementary school classroom, in a sit-in style protest against the school's closing.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:54 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:54:41 GMT
Nine students at a Near North Side bilingual public elementary school were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a student accidentally discharged pepper spray.
Nine students at a Near North Side bilingual public elementary school were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a student accidentally discharged pepper spray.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 4:27 PM EDT2013-06-19 20:27:06 GMT
Now that obesity has been officially classified as a disease by the AMA, many are wondering how this will affect the 35.7 percent of Americans who are described as obese.
Now that obesity has been officially classified as a disease by the AMA, many are wondering how this will affect the 35.7 percent of Americans who are described as obese.
