DEA and Porter County Sheriff's Office dismantle synthetics operation-seize weapons and currency in Portage, Ind.

Porter County, Ind. – In April of this year, the Porter County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration received a narcotics tip regarding manufacturing and sales of synthetic drugs in the 5600 block of Carnation Ave. in Portage, Ind. Investigators assigned to the Porter County Multi-Enforcement Group, assisted by the DEA and Portage SWAT, executed a search warrant at the residence on April 25, 2019. Located inside the residence were 64 pounds of synthetic drugs, 940 grams of synthetic chemical compound used to manufacture the substance commonly referred to as ‘spice,’ evidence of several gallons of acetone which is also used to manufacture the substance, $2,955 dollars in U.S. currency from the illicit sales of narcotics, a stolen Ruger mini 14 rifle and a Glock 37 semi-automatic pistol. The suspects, 31-year-old male, Muhammad Sobuh, and 34-year-old female, Kesha Sobuh, both of Portage, were arrested at the residence and transported to Porter County Jail for the following preliminary criminal charges:

Level 2 felony dealing in a controlled substance,

Level 6 felony dealing in a synthetic drug,

Level 6 felony manufacturing of synthetic drug,

Level 6 felony maintaining a common nuisance and

Level 6 felony possession of a stolen firearm.

The chemicals that are used in the clandestine production of ‘spice’ are extremely volatile and create a health and environmental hazard. We encourage the community to continue submitting detailed tips to the Porter County ‘submit a tip’ on their website.

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