I-290 traffic stop leads to drug charges

A Chicago man, stopped by police on eastbound I-290 for trying to cross several lanes of traffic, faces charges after more than $13,000 worth of drugs were discovered in the car.

Illinois State Police stopped the car driven by 26-year-old Benjamin Robles around 10:30 a.m. Monday as he attempted to access the southbound I-294 ramp, cutting off a semitrailer, prosecutors said.

The trooper noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Lesley Gool during Robles’ bond hearing Tuesday in Rolling Meadows.

The trooper asked Robles if the car contained any drug paraphernalia, after which Robles handed the officer a “glass smoking pipe,” Gool said. A search of the car revealed more than 1,000 grams of marijuana, 18 grams of cocaine and 15.7 grams of ecstasy with a total street value of more than $13,600, Gool said. Police also recovered other drug paraphernalia and $745 in cash.

Police charged Robles with possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a class X felony, along with other felony drug possession charges.

Cook County Judge Jill Cerone Marisie set Robles’ bail at $50,000.

The car does not belong to Robles, said defense attorney Steven Roach, adding that his client has one prior supervision for DUI.

Robles next appears in court on Nov. 16.