Another year, another record set by Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group

WAUKEGAN – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group, a high intensity drug trafficking area-funded task force, continued its record setting trend in 2021, seizing nearly $5 million worth of illegal drugs in Lake County.

Additionally, last year SIG seized 54 illegally possessed firearms, dismantled a Lake County street gang and stopped two drive-by shootings that had been ordered by a gang, according to a news release.

In 2021, the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group’s seizures included almost 70 pounds of powder cocaine, more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 3 pounds of heroin, almost 8 pounds of ketamine, more than 5 pounds of illegally trafficked cannabis and hundreds of grams of crack cocaine, ecstasy and fentanyl.

In addition to drug trafficking enforcement, SIG places a major emphasis on human trafficking. SIG conducts investigations and arrests individuals who deceitfully lure unsuspecting victims into forced servitude. SIG is a partner in the Lake County Human Trafficking Task Force and members of SIG work with community partners to educate them on the warning signs and how to report suspected human trafficking.

SIG offers presentations to school educators, students, community organizations and neighborhood groups to keep the community closely informed of drug trends, warning signs and resources available.

SIG is the only HIDTA-funded group in Lake County. With this funding, they are able to allocate substantial resources toward drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations and criminal enterprises.

“I firmly believe our expanding of SIG over the past few years created a robust and proactive enforcement group where we can focus on violence, drug trafficking and human trafficking,” Sheriff John Idelburg said in the release. “This has undoubtedly saved lives from being lost to violence and drug overdose. In the years to come, we will continue expanding SIG and our other task force groups, which are all essential in reducing crime and helping the community.”

Participating Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group agencies are the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, the North Chicago Police Department, the Park City Police Department, the Round Lake Beach Police Department, the Wauconda Police Department, the Waukegan Police Department, the Winthrop Harbor Police Department and the Zion Police Department.