6 Arrested in South Side Drug Market Bust

Police on Saturday arrested six people and seized more than $2,000 worth of heroin during a sweep of a drug market controlled by the Black P Stones street gang on the South Side. The move comes after police arrested 23 people earlier this week in connection to a North Side drug market.

The Chicago Police Department’s Narcotics Division began an investigation into the South Side market in April, according to a news release from the department. The market was located near 102nd Place between Michigan Avenue and State Street, the release said.

Police used surveillance and “numerous” undercover drug transactions to identify 15 people who were selling heroin, cannabis and crack cocaine at the market, the release said, adding that nine of the 15 people were convicted felons and one a parolee.

The gang members operating the drug market used nearby abandoned buildings to hide the drugs, the release said.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said in a statement that the markets busted this week played a “large role in the violence” in those communities.

“We will not stop going after individuals trafficking in narcotics and engaging in gang activity in our communities,” McCarthy said.

Saturday’s sweep also resulted in police recovering a handgun, cash and an undisclosed amount of cannabis and crack cocaine, the release said.

On Thursday, police arrested 23 people during a bust of two drug markets selling heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis and prescription drugs in the North Side Uptown neighborhood.

Many of those arrested are known gang members, with arrests related to homicides, kidnappings and other serious crimes, according to police.

The investigation began as part of a search for information in several unsolved shootings and murders in the area of Argyle to Wilson avenues, and Racine Avenue to Lake Shore Drive.