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Various Drugs, Money Displayed as Proof of 'Progress'

By Darryl Holliday | November 2, 2012 11:01am

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy admits it's not the biggest bust in recent memory, but the drugs and money were piled high nonetheless.

McCarthy held a news conference at the Chicago Police Department's headquarters Thursday to announce "a drop in murders and shootings for October." The conference was attended by several top CPD officials, all of whom hailed the "progress" Chicago police have made due, in part, to the city's Gang Violence Reduction Strategy, which is targeted at drug market takedowns.

Two separate investigations, including one focusing on the Maniac Latin Disciples street gang, led to the confiscation of $4 million in drugs and $1.6 million in cash, including an unnamed amount of ecstacy, $3 million in marijuana and more than $500,000 worth of cocaine.

That was in addition to the confiscation of a 30-foot boat, two motorcycles — one worth $160,000 — a jet ski, and eight vehicles.

"Progress" was the word of the day.

"We're not going to declare failure, [and] we're not going to declare victory," McCarthy said. "But we are going to declare progress."

According to CPD officials, this year held the second lowest October murder rate since 1982, with 36 murders compared to 44 murders in 2011. October also saw a drop in shootings, with 208 compared to 231 in 2011. 

However, the number of murders in 2012 has still surpassed that of last year.