Agents seize 2 tons of pot in Addison

Two men face charges after police raided an Addison furniture store over the weekend and seized nearly 2 tons of marijuana — one of the largest drug busts on record in DuPage County, authorities announced Monday.

Ignacio Morales, 28, and Luis Pichardo, 32, both of Melrose Park, were each ordered held on $10 million bail.

Prosecutors said undercover officers with the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMeg) saw Morales and Pichardo “acting suspiciously” at the used furniture store at 135 Laura Drive on Friday evening. Addison police later pulled over and arrested Pichardo for driving without a valid license, authorities said.

During the traffic stop, a drug-detecting dog alerted officers to the vehicle, as well as the furniture store, authorities said. Officers then obtained a search warrant for the business, where early Sunday morning they found 3,700 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $16.8 million, according to a news release.

“This is definitely the single-largest drug seizure in DuMeg’s 25-year history,” said Steve Loan, director of the countywide drug task force.

Loan said authorities were still investigating whether the business, misspelled on the front door as “Grand Bazar” “Used Forniture” was operating legitimately. The store appeared unoccupied Monday, but a current business license was still posted near the door.

“There was furniture in there, but the investigation continues into whether or not it was a legitimate business,” Loan said. “From all appearances right now, it looks legitimate outside of the misspellings in the name.”

Authorities are still investigating the relationship of the two suspects to the business.

Assistant State’s Attorney Audrey Anderson, chief of the narcotics unit, said the bust appeared to be the largest cannabis seizure in DuPage history.

Police were still processing the evidence Monday, with marijuana stored in about 160, 25-pound boxes, Loan said.

State’s Attorney Robert Berlin credited DuMeg for the successful investigation. “Because of their efforts, nearly two tons of marijuana will not make it to the streets,” he said in a statement.

Morales and Pichardo each face charges of marijuana possession with intent to deliver and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Both are scheduled for arraignment Sept. 19 in front of Judge Robert Kleeman.