Crime & Safety

$1 Million Synthetic Drug Bust in Unincorporated Lombard

This was the first search warrant issued in DuPage County for this type of controlled substance. Two men were arrested on Jan. 13 following the three-month investigation.

DuPage County sheriff's deputies have arrested two men in an undercover drug investigation that led to the seizure of more than $1 million in  from a Lombard-area tobacco shop located near North Avenue and Swift Road. 

George Rantis, 49, of St. Charles, is charged with one count of manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance of more than 200 grams, a Class X felony. Rantis reportedly is the owner of the shop. Store manager Sergio Delcid, 46, of Chicago, is accused of the same charge.

DuPage Sheriff John E. Zaruba announced the arrests on Jan. 13, following a three-month investigation. A search for synthetic cannabis and bath salts was conducted Dec. 15 at Sergio's Discount Smoke Shop, 21W500 North Ave. in unincorporated Lombard. Members of the Zaruba's multi-jurisdictional Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) seized synthetic cannabis, known by brand names K2, Spice & Red Magic and bath salts, previously sold under the names Charley Sheene and Ultra. They also found drug paraphernalia and more than $5,000 in cash at the business.  

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This was the first search warrant issued in DuPage County for this type of controlled substance, according to police. The drugs seized in the raid became illegal in July. These substances became illegal in St. Charles and Batavia in November 2011, f, which she suspects aided in her Batavia son's death. At the time some synthetic drugs were banned across the state of Illinois but more became illegal Jan. 1, 2012. 

Both men were booked at the DuPage County Jail on $100,000 bond each and released after posting 10 percent bail.

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