Drug raid nets narcotics, 5 arrests

Five individuals were arrested late Wednesday after a raid on a city residence late Wednesday turned up a large amount of narcotics.

The MARMET Drug Task Force went to 262 1⁄2 N. State St. at 11:27 p.m. with the assistance of the Marion Police Department Special Response Team, Deputies of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and officers of the Marion Police Department.

Five men were arrested in the house and taken to the Multi-County Corrections Center on felony drug charges, pending formal charges from the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

Arrested were Manuel Allen, 262 1/2 N. State St., Marion; Christopher Sankey, 279 S. Grand St., Marion; Alvin Johnson and Durrain Land of Chicago and Anthony Riley, 317 Jamesway, Marion.

Officers seized 149.9 grams of heroin, 46.8 grams of cocaine, 8.2 grams of marijuana, 15 additional bindles of cocaine, $1,362 in cash, various items of drug paraphernalia and a stolen .25 caliber Colt handgun, loaded. The drugs have an approximate street value of $40,000.

“Tonight, MARMET stopped a significant drug trafficking organization in our community and I am very proud of the work that these detectives have done on this case so far,” said Major Jay McDonald of the Marion Police Department and drug task force.

Originally published in the Marion Star on March 26, 2015.