METRO DRUG UNIT IN ON MORE THAN 400 ARRESTS THIS YEAR

YORKVILLE -- The Racine County Metro Drug Unit has been a part of more than
400 arrests and the seizure of more than $1 million in drugs from January
through September of this year.

Those numbers were supplied by Sgt. Don Wheeler, who heads the Metro Drug
Unit, at Monday's monthly meeting of the Greater Union Grove Area Chamber
of Commerce held at Lori G's Pub on Durand Avenue.

"If it's in Racine, it's here, too," said Wheeler, who has served on the
Metro Drug Unit for just over two years. He has six detectives on staff.
"It's all about money, and there's no shortage of (drugs) ... here, anywhere."

Although Union Grove doesn't compare to the city of Racine in total drug
use, it's comparable on a per-capita basis.

"Percentage-wise, it's probably the same," said Wheeler, who cited national
studies that indicate 18 percent of everyone over the age of 12 admitted to
drug use.

"Marijuana," he said, "is the most prevalent drug in America, outside of
alcohol. But if you start with marijuana, eventually you're going to want
to go up."

Wheeler's slide show included photos of drug busts among the 45 search
warrants already conducted in 2002. Some of the homes on the screen were in
Racine, others around the county.

One home had 221 marijuana plants. Another had 60 pounds of marijuana, two
kilograms of cocaine, guns, and $98,000 in cash. One motor vehicle was
found to have eight kilos of cocaine under its dash and two more elsewhere.

"This isn't New York," Wheeler said, "this is right here in Racine."

Besides cocaine and marijuana, Wheeler said crack, steroids, prescription
drugs, ecstasy and more are being used by county residents.

An ecstasy pill, for instance, is made for a nickel in The Netherlands, but
will bring $5 in New York and anywhere from $20 to $40 here. A kilo of
cocaine might be purchased in Texas or Mexico for $5,000, and sold here for
up to $25,000. A pound of cocaine could bring $4,000.

"It's out there," Wheeler said. "It's not hard to find."

Wheeler also said it's fairly common for people to report drug use and
sales regarding their ex-spouse, ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend.

"They're more than happy to turn them in," he said. "A lot of people turn
them in."

However, it's not always that easy to catch the criminals.

"These guys are hard to catch," Wheeler said. "They're street-smart."