The Troy Police Department says it executed search warrants at two sites Tuesday night as part of an investigation into what it describes as "a major drug production and distribution operation."

Among the items the TPD says it found at an apartment on 16th Street: "pancakes" of crack (photo above). From the press release:

Also subject to the execution of a search warrant was the basement apartment at 2209 16th Street. Troy Police ERT was deployed to insure safe entry based upon concerns of possible weapons present. After the location was secured, Investigators located a large cache of US currency ($9300), approximately 100 grams of marihuana and a copious amount of crack cocaine, in both bulk form and packaged for sale. Within the apartment were scales, cutting agents, "cooking" utensils and drug packaging materials. Of note was the discovery of one and one-half pounds of crack cocaine in pancake form; the drug was in its bulk state, not yet cut or packaged. Live ammunition was also discovered within the apartment.

That is a lot of crack. Troy police captain John Cooney tells us the pancakes would be worth $30,000 broken up for sale. TPD says the apartment resident wasn't home at the time, and there's been no arrest, yet. (Full press release post jump.)

Cocaine trend

Crack devastated many communities during the 80s and 90s. And obviously it's still a problem.

But recently there's been not-as-bad news: cocaine use appears to be declining. The number of people who reported using cocaine in the past month declined from 2.4 million in 2006 to 1.4 million in 2011 (the most recent year available), according to the federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The number of people who reported using cocaine for the first time was 1 million in 2002 -- in 2011, it was 670,000. And the difference in first-time users was even more stark for crack: 337,000 vs. 76,000.

Cocaine still ranked #1 among illicit drugs for emergency department visits for misuse or abuse of drugs in 2011, according to data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network compiled by the feds. (By the way: the number of such visits for pharmaceuticals -- that is, prescription drugs -- topped those of all illicit drugs in 2011, with 458.3 visits per 100k population vs. 402 for illicit drugs. The rate of visits for pharmaceuticals was up 114 percent between 2004 and 2011.)

One guess why cocaine use is down (and prescription drug abuse is up): the economy. [Time]

Troy PD Media advisory: Narcotics investigation leads to shutdown of "drug factory"

At approximately 10:00 pm Tuesday evening (Feb 5), the Troy Police Special Investigations Unit executed search warrants at two locations in the city as part of an on-going investigation into what can best be described as a major drug production and distribution operation.

A warrant served at 2264 Old Sixth Avenue resulted in the seizure of marihuana; quantity not exceptional. No one was home at the residence and the evidence has been secured.

Also subject to the execution of a search warrant was the basement apartment at 2209 16th Street. Troy Police ERT was deployed to insure safe entry based upon concerns of possible weapons present. After the location was secured, Investigators located a large cache of US currency ($9300), approximately 100 grams of marihuana and a copious amount of crack cocaine, in both bulk form and packaged for sale. Within the apartment were scales, cutting agents, "cooking" utensils and drug packaging materials. Of note was the discovery of one and one-half pounds of crack cocaine in pancake form; the drug was in its bulk state, not yet cut or packaged. Live ammunition was also discovered within the apartment.

No arrest has been made yet in this case; the resident of the basement apartment was not at home during at the time of execution of the warrant and has yet to be questioned. Investigators and Emergency Response Team members encountered a sophisticated video surveillance system at the 16th Street address. This discovery was particularly alarming to those tasked with forcible entry to the residence; any occupant(s) therein would have had clear warning of the entry of law enforcement personnel. All video equipment has been seized.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York State Police CNET, Rensselaer County Sheriff's Department all participated in and assisted in the investigation.

photo: Troy Police Department