70-year-old man found with $1 million of heroin on NW Side, prosecutors say

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A 70-year-old man is facing charges of selling a kilogram of heroin to undercover officers — and of possessing over $1 million of the drug — in the Portage Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side.

Manuel Mejia Rojas, who lives in the Little Village neighborhood, was charged with class X felonies of delivering and possessing a controlled substance, according to Cook County states attorneys. He was held on $300 bail.

Rojas allegedly sold over a kilogram of heroin to undercover officers about 7 p.m. in the 4700 block of West Belmont Avenue, according to Chicago police. Officers also found about seven kilograms of heroin in his possession.

Manuel Mejia Rojas | Chicago police

Manuel Mejia Rojas | Chicago police

The drugs had an estimated street value of over $1 million, according to prosecutors.

“That’s a lot of drugs, son,” Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. said at a bail hearing Saturday in the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on the Southwest Side.

Judge Lyke asked what bail he could afford to pay, and Rojas replied $300. Lyke set his bail to $300 and order him to be placed on electronic monitoring.

Rojas’ defense attorney said he stays employed through a temp agency.

He was scheduled to appear in court again Nov. 15 at Branch 44 in the Lawndale neighborhood.

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