Warren police incinerate illegal drugs, weapons

WARREN – City police have destroyed an estimated $300,000 to $400,000 in illegal drugs that are no longer needed as evidence.

Lt. Thomas Skoczylas, commander of the narcotics unit, said the drugs included prescription bills, marijuana, crack cocaine, powered cocaine, heroine and Ecstacy.

Skoczylas said some of the drugs have been held as evidence since 1998, and it took about a year to determine which were no long needed to prosecute cases.

The drugs, along with firearms and drug paraphernalia, were destroyed Friday in a furnace at WCI Steel.

There were 600 pieces of paraphernalia melted down, including 500 syringes, the lieutenant explained. There were 37 firearms along with some knives and ammunition.