DRUG DEALERS DUMP 3,000 POUNDS OF POT IN YARD, POLICE SAY

Apparently not ones for subtlety, drug dealers last week pulled up to an
East St. Louis mobile home in a flatbed truck and dumped 3,000 pounds or
more of marijuana into the yard, according to charges filed in federal court.

The bundles, each as high as a man's shoulder, were picked up later by
others in a rental truck and secured in the basement of a nearby home.

On Friday, police, the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office revealed details
of the delivery and the arrest of three East St. Louis residents.

Officials called it an "extremely significant" drug bust. The deal appears
to be orchestrated by several Mexican nationals who have not been
identified by authorities.

In court documents, FBI Agent John Jimenez said the alleged recipient of
the marijuana, Desean Conners, 33, confessed, telling authorities that the
Mexican suppliers wanted to increase his usual 50-pound supply; he expected
a delivery of no more than 700 pounds.

St. Louis police caught on to the wholesale drug operation after officers
stopped a car March 8 with 45 pounds of marijuana, according to a criminal
complaint filed Thursday against Conners and two others.

The driver agreed to cooperate and told police about the delivery that had
been made, the complaint says.

After observing the home and obtaining a search warrant, police seized
about 2,000 pounds of marijuana Tuesday from the home's basement.

Facing charges of drug distribution are Conners, Montrell Wilson, 32, a
resident of the home in the 3300 block of Market Street where police say
marijuana was found, and Montrez Wilson, 28, who allegedly pulled a package
of marijuana from the mobile home while police observed.

The investigation involved U.S. marshals and police officers from East St.
Louis, Belleville and O'Fallon, Ill.

The charges carry a minimum 10-year prison term. The three are expected to
appear for a detention hearing Wednesday in federal court in East St. Louis.