Police: Drugs found, sold inside candy store; worker arrested

Gloria Estrada (Chicago Police / January 5, 2013)

7:32 p.m. CST, January 5, 2013

A candy store worker has been charged after Chicago police found illegal drugs were being sold out of the South Side store.

The employee, Gloria Estrada, 46, of the 8200 block of South Houston Avenue, was charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of cannabis, according to a statement from the Chicago Police Department. She is expected in court Sunday.

South Chicago District tactical officers executed a search warrant at the store Saturday in the 3000 block of East 83rd Street in the South Chicago neighborhood and Estrada was arrested, according to the statement.

Police investigating recent violence in that area learned narcotics transactions were taking place inside the candy store, according to the statement.

Earlier this week, surveillance was been set up and two other people were arrested for possession of cannabis and possession of a controlled substance, crack cocaine, police said. Those arrests enabled officers to secure the search warrant, the statement said.

Officers recovered four knotted baggies of crack cocaine as well as a large, clear bag containing 20 smaller baggies, each containing cannabis, the statement said. Police also seized cash believed to be the proceeds of narcotics sales.

"Drug spots like this contribute to violence in our communities," South Chicago District Tactical Lieutenant Kevin Milmine said in the release. "It is deplorable that a store of this type was used for drug sales, and it is tremendous work by my tactical officers to shut them down."

rsobol@tribune.com

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Police: Drugs found, sold inside candy store; worker arrested