Burlington woman charged in $4 million drug bust near St. Louis

A Burlington woman has been arrested in the United States in connection with what authorities there are calling a major drug bust.

Illinois State Police (ISP) say Rebecca Kiczma, 37, of Burlington and Payden Davidge, 33, of Barrie now face drug trafficking charges.

According to reports, bail for the Canadians was set at $5 million each in Bond Country Circuit Court, an amount considered one of the highest ever in that jurisdiction. They remain in custody at the Bond County Jail.

Police say the arrest happened following a routine traffic stop earlier this month in the southern end of the state, near St. Louis, Missouri.

Officers say they discovered 125 kilograms of cocaine in a vehicle which they believe was brought into the state and intended to be delivered to someone who lives in the area. The street value of the drugs was estimated by police at over $4 million in Canadian dollars.

The State Attorney’s Office says the amount of cocaine seized is the largest in Illinois this year.

In an initial court hearing, Kiczma pleaded not guilty to the charge and none of the allegations against her have been proven.

In Illinois, a conviction on drug trafficking charges carries a minimum 30-year sentence and a fine that could reach as high as $1 million.