DuPage men charged in $19 million coke bust

Bond has been set at $1,000,000 for Two DuPage men caught with 110 pounds of cocaine in the trunk of their car, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Jose Ramirez-Rodriguez, 23, and Efrain Rodriguez-Juarez, 32, were stopped at around 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Maywood after police spotted their Toyota Camry facing the wrong direction, according to the sheriff's office. The road they were stopped on, Maybrook Drive, leads to the Cook County Sheriff's Police headquarters, according to police.

Ramirez-Rodriguez, the driver, was not able to provide police with a driver's license at the stop, and police noticed both men appeared nervous. The men gave the officers conflicting information as they were questioned and officers noticed that the men had a statue of Jesus Malverdes, the "patron saint" of drug traffickers, on their center console, according to the sheriff's office.

During a vehicle inspection, police said they found 50 kilograms of cocaine in the trunk of the car. Police estimate the street value at $19,350,000.

Ramirez-Rodriguez, of the 1300 block of Pershing Road in Wheaton, and Rodriguez-Jaurez, of the 1400 block of Walnut Circle in Carol Stream, are both charged with manufacturing/delivery of more than 900 grams of cocaine and possession of more than 900 grams of cocaine, according to police.

Ramirez-Rodriguez is also charged with driving the wrong way on a highway; driving without a license and operating a vehicle without a license.

The next court date is set for Oct. 5 in Maywood.