Lake County’s Special Investigations Group seized a record amount of fentanyl in 2023 and also uncovered a human trafficking operation that resulted in the rescue of five victims, authorities said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) is a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force.
The SIG is the only HIDTA-funded initiative in Lake County, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Covelli said the SIG placed a focus on gun traffickers operating throughout the county in 2023.
“This resulted in the seizure of dozens of firearms being sold by gun traffickers, seizure of switch devices that turn pistols into fully automatic firearms and seizure of ghost guns, all while securing the arrests of the offenders,” he said Thursday.
The SIG opened 167 criminal investigations, arrested 64 suspects and seized over $2.5 million worth of illegal drugs last year.
The seizures included nearly 10 pounds of powder cocaine, over 17,000 fentanyl pills, over 120 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, nearly 10 pounds of illegally trafficked cannabis and nearly 900 grams of methamphetamine.
They also seized 112 illegally possessed firearms, many of which were possessed by convicted felons, Covelli said.
During one of their investigations, SIG discovered a possible human trafficking operation being run in St. Charles.
Covelli said SIG turned over crucial information they uncovered to authorities in St. Charles and assisted them in rescuing five victims from human trafficking.
Members of SIG conducted a number of presentations to schools, businesses community groups and other public safety organizations.
Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said the SIG has been making a major positive impact in the community.
“They successfully stopped over 17,000 deadly fentanyl pills from being sold throughout Lake County, which undoubtedly saved many lives. Over the last five years, SIG has removed nearly $20 million dollars’ worth of drugs being trafficked in Lake County. The partnerships and collaboration between SIG’s member agencies are major reasons that SIG is so successful,” Idleburg said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) participate in the SIG.
The Highland Park Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Park City Police Department, Round Lake Beach Police Department, Round Lake Park Police Department, Round Lake Police Department, Wauconda Police Department, Waukegan Police Department, Winthrop Harbor Police Department and Zion Police Department are also part of the group.