A SWAT team arrested an alleged drug trafficker who was found in possession of three kilograms of cocaine, worth over $120,000, during a search warrant near Marengo Wednesday afternoon.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded Wednesday afternoon to a farm in the 23400 block of Harmony Road in unincorporated Marengo to conduct a court-authorized search warrant.
McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Margaret O’Brien said the sheriff’s office’s SWAT team conducted the warrant.
They found Amador Abel, 52, of South Elgin, attempting to hide from law enforcement in a barn on the property, O’Brien said.
Abel, along with several other people on the property, were detained during the search.
The search warrant included all of the vehicles on the property. Investigators found a red tow truck among those parked at the farm, O’Brien said.
No one claimed ownership of the vehicle and officers threatened to break the window of the truck to gain access.
O’Brien said Amador finally stated the truck belonged to him and he gave the keys to the SWAT team.
A search of the tow truck led to the seizure of approximately three kilograms of a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine.
A search of a law enforcement database showed the truck was registered to Amador’s home address.
They confirmed the truck belonged to Amador, who had arrived at the farm property shortly before officers did, O’Brien said.
Officials said that low-level dealers purchase cocaine in ounces. Each kilogram is 35 ounces and the street value per ounce is $800-$1,200, meaning the drugs recovered could be worth up to $126,000.
Amador was charged with one count of manufacturing or delivery of 900+ grams of cocaine, a Class X felony, and possession of 900+ grams of cocaine, a Class 1 felony.
Court documents said Amador has a “minimal” criminal history.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to the community.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the petition during a detention hearing on Thursday.
The judge said the amount of cocaine found indicates that Amador is selling drugs to the community.
“This court finds that no conditions exist that would mitigate the risk that this defendant poses to the person or persons of the community,” Lamb said.
Amador remains held in the McHenry County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on October 15 for a status of preliminary hearing.