Drug trafficking is prevalent in DeKalb County and efforts to combat cocaine dealing have intensified because of an increase in problems in the community, according to DeKalb Police.

Calls to social service and law enforcement agencies prompted police efforts to increase manpower and financial resources for drug investigations, said DeKalb Police Detective Sgt. Charles Kross.

Cocaine dealing was targeted by area law enforcement agencies because the use of cocaine surpasses that of other drugs, except marijuana and alcohol, police said.

“Cocaine abounds in the community,” Kross said. “The volume of availability is astounding.

“The drug of choice changed from LSD, PCP and uppers in the ‘70s to cocaine in the ’80s,” he said.

Cannabis and alcohol also are widely used, and police report a resurgence in the use of LSD within the last 18 months.

The county’s cocaine connections begin in Chicago, where dealers receive supplies from Florida, Kross said. The drugs are taken from Chicago to DeKalb, Rockford, Madison and other surrounding communities primarily by car, he said.

Police said some drug dealers in the county have ties to the ring operated by alumni of Marist Catholic High School in Chicago. In May, two former Marist students committed suicide after their involvement in the drug ring.

“There is a definite connection between Marist High School and the community,” Kross said.

Drug traffickers in DeKalb County cover the entire range of the socio-economic spectrum and vary from those on welfare to the wealthy, he said. Dealers range from teenagers to people in their 40s and 50s. One of the trends of drug use in the ‘80s is that many abusers and dealers are parents in their 40s and 50s, Kross said.

He said the average DeKalb County dealer is small-time, dealing at the $1,000 level to support a drug habit.

“Most are regular people who got involved and got in over their heads,” Kross said. “They started using the drugs, became addicted and began dealing to help cover costs. They found outlets and not only covered costs, but made money.”

Several people in DeKalb County deal at large levels.

“We’re aware of a number of people who are dealing at the kilo (kilogram) level (2.2 pounds),” Kross said. “An investment of $25,000 per kilo yields a return of $100,000.”

Some drug dealing has taken place on the NIU campus, according to police.

“A number of people who are NIU students were arrested,” Kross said, “but we don’t want to put the blame on students any more or less than on anyone else.”

Because drug dealers operate primarily in closed communities and sell to friends or acquaintances out of homes or in bars, residence halls, fraternities and sororities, the rings are difficult to infiltrate, Kross said. A ring of DeKalb High School students is in operation, he said.

Police use undercover agents from DeKalb and from other police departments including Rochelle, Kendall County and Yorkville.