Baltimore Police Seize 91 Pounds of Cocaine (Post 1 of 2)

Baltimore City police officers seized 91 pounds of pure powder cocaine from a home in southwest Baltimore early last Friday. The seizure was the largest in the history of the Baltimore police department. One man was arrested at the residence, and the department is hoping to make more arrests in connection with the cocaine. Had the drugs hit the streets, it is estimated they had a value of $2 to $3 million dollars. Baltimore Police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld said the product would have been diluted, repackaged and sold on the streets in the form of either cocaine or crack cocaine.

The investigation and subsequent bust came after only weeks of investigation. Most major drug investigations require much more time and effort. The police department gathered information through a variety of surveillance and tips, and had prior knowledge of the individual arrested. Bealefeld said the drugs were part of "a wholesale operation" and officers were pursuing leads about the suppliers of the cocaine.

The drugs would have potentially been distributed throughout the Baltimore area as well as surrounding counties and suburbs. Although heroin is the major drug in the area, cocaine is widely distributed in the region. Officers also seized $11,000 in cash during the raid. No weapons were found and the man was taken into custody without incident. The Baltimore city police department hopes this will lead to more arrests and at least make a dent in the Baltimore drug epidemic.