AURORA DOCTOR CHARGED WITH GROWING MARIJUANA

An Aurora pediatrician was arrested Friday for allegedly growing marijuana
in his basement, one of 23 people picked up on drug charges after a
two-month investigation in DuPage County.

Dr. Rudy Kilani was charged with felony production of cannabis after police
found about 20 marijuana plants--some 4 to 5 feet tall--in his basement.

Police had gone to the home to serve Kilani, 40, with an arrest warrant on
misdemeanor drug-possession charges when a search dog found the marijuana
plants and growing equipment, investigators said.

``The plants were in various stages of the growing process, which means
it's a continuous operation,'' said Mark Henry, director of the DuPage
Metropolitan Enforcement Group, which coordinated the arrests.

At least some of the plants were ``harvest ready,'' Henry said.

Most of those arrested, who range in age from 17 to 48, were charged with
unlawful possession of cannabis. Five people were charged with possession
of cocaine or heroin.

Kilani could not be reached to comment, and workers at his Naperville
office declined to comment.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski