MONROE - Two Monroe men were arrested Friday after the State Line Area Narcotics Team (SLANT) received a tip about drugs in a building located at 1010 17th Avenue on Monroe's Square.
Joshua T. Moon, 29, and Patrick R. Gonzales, 24, initially were charged with manufacture of psilocybin mushrooms, possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a news release issued by Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley.
Kelley said officers discovered a "substantial" growing operation in the building. He said there were about 100 containers used to grow the mushrooms.
"It's believed to be one of the largest found in the area in recent years," he said.
He estimated the drugs could be worth up to $100,000.
In addition, officers also discovered about 30 grams of dried mushrooms, a small quantity of suspected marijuana, packaging material and weighing equipment, more than 200 smoking devices, ammunition and more than $1,000 in currency.
Moon and Gonzales were jailed pending court.
SLANT is made up of officers from the Green and Lafayette county sheriff's departments, the Monroe Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Boone County, Ill., sheriff's department and the Freeport, Rockford, Roscoe and Loves Park, Ill., police departments.
Joshua T. Moon, 29, and Patrick R. Gonzales, 24, initially were charged with manufacture of psilocybin mushrooms, possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a news release issued by Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley.
Kelley said officers discovered a "substantial" growing operation in the building. He said there were about 100 containers used to grow the mushrooms.
"It's believed to be one of the largest found in the area in recent years," he said.
He estimated the drugs could be worth up to $100,000.
In addition, officers also discovered about 30 grams of dried mushrooms, a small quantity of suspected marijuana, packaging material and weighing equipment, more than 200 smoking devices, ammunition and more than $1,000 in currency.
Moon and Gonzales were jailed pending court.
SLANT is made up of officers from the Green and Lafayette county sheriff's departments, the Monroe Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Boone County, Ill., sheriff's department and the Freeport, Rockford, Roscoe and Loves Park, Ill., police departments.