COLORADO SPRINGS – The Colorado Springs Police Department said it seized more than $2 million worth of illegal drugs, weapons and cash from illegal retail marijuana stores operating in the city and county.
CSPD released information about a months-long investigation into the following locations in Colorado Springs and in El Paso County:
- Toke-a-Lot & Vapors Choice, both located at 507 Security Boulevard
- Toke-a-Lil, located at 2549 Delta Drive
- Primo’s Smoke, located at 1748 Shasta Drive
- Best Bud and Peak Ascension, both located at 1617 Lashelle Way
- Blazed & Confused, located at 603 West Colorado Avenue
- Church of the Most High, located at 2402 East Boulder Street
CSPD said that when search warrants were executed at these locations, detectives recovered in excess of $10,000, more than 100 pounds of refined marijuana product, marijuana-infused edibles, and marijuana concentrate. Selling marijuana for retail use is illegal in the City of Colorado Springs and in El Paso County.
El Paso County deputies and police also arrested 37-year-old Jon Vincent Martinez on Nov. 30 in connection to the searches. Police called Martinez one of the “main suspects” of the investigation.
When they searched his home, authorities said they found several large safes containing more than 60 different handguns and rifles. CSPD said that six of the weapons were found to be stolen from previously reported crimes. The search also revealed illegal narcotics inside the residence, including cocaine, meth, and ecstasy.
In addition to the drugs, detectives confiscated five vehicles, one motorcycle, numerous pieces of high-end jewelry, and several Rolex watches.
According to CSPD, information and evidence obtained during this search provided detectives with probable cause to author additional search warrants at different locations that eventually led to the discovery of $1.375 million of unreported cash. CSPD said the cash was confiscated as part of the investigation.
Martinez was booked into the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Justice Center for felony distribution.
