Florida "D Day" Targets Grow Houses

[SomeGuy]

Not a lot of info on this yet. Google news search returns 121 entries for "florida marijuana +grow" just in the last week. Apparently this was a statewide operation as the stories that google pops up are all lover the state.
Looking at google news you'd think the only place they grow pot in the US is in florida. If you just search "marijuana +grow" the majority of the stories originate from FL.

Be safe!!

Miami CBS News

It Was "D-Day" For Miami Dade Drug Dealers
Miami Dade Has The Most Grow Houses In The State
MIAMI (CBS4) ― Nearly 50 people were taken into custody during a one day crackdown on marijuana "grow houses" in Miami Dade.

Dubbed "Operation D-Day" more than 100 Miami Dade police officers, along with state and federal agents, raided 50 grow houses across the county.

During the day long blitz, officers arrested 49 people and confiscated more than 2-thousand marijuana plants along with 17-hundred pounds of marijuana which had a street value of nearly $7-million.

They also confiscated 8 firearms, a bullet proof vest and $113,600 in cash.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Miami Dade has the highest number of "grow houses" in the state; so many are popping up across the state that agents have had to double the number of raids they conduct each year.

In 2007, federal and state agents along with local law enforcement raided one thousand suspected "grow houses"; the year before that only 510 drug houses were found.

 

[doja420]

What a great way to spend my tax money. Forget solving murders or fixing our property tax and insurance issues. This devil plant must be eradicated.

 

[SomeGuy]

Heres a little better info link.

CBS News

(CBS/AP) Officers fighting networks of indoor marijuana factories took out what they called a major operation Wednesday in a secluded back room of a house where a nice older lady sold ice cream to kids.

The raid targeted a sophisticated pot-growing operation that could net more than $300,000 a year, authorities said. The woman, Juana Betancourt, sat drinking coffee, appearing calmly resigned to the bust, as local police and federal agents carted away the crop. She wouldn't comment.

Bad luck found Betancourt on a quiet suburban street, the kind that often leaves neighbors dumbfounded when officers show up.

Yet it was a case in point in the battle between law enforcement and organized crime syndicates that have moved into the indoor-growing business. Law enforcement officials from Seattle to Miami are grappling with the spread of sophisticated indoor marijuana farms, often run by ethnic gangs, that produce hundreds of pounds each year.

"You can go into any neighborhood, the nicest neighborhood you want, and the person next door could be a marijuana grower," said Mark R. Trouville, special agent in charge of the Miami office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. "It really is all about the money. It's phenomenal."

CBS affiliate, WFOR-TV in Miami reports that grow houses like the one busted in Miami are cropping up all over southern Florida.

DEA special agent Anthony Angelli told WFOR-TV they're seeing more and more "grow houses' all across south Florida, and it concerns him.

"It's just flowing all over South Florida. It's easy to put these grows together," said Angelli.

The two dozen plants found at Betancourt's home, each more than 4 feet tall, are known as "mothers" - meant not so much for smoking but as sources of clones for future pot crops. The plants exude an unmistakable strong, sickly sweet smell under bright grow lights and are fed by an irrigation system. Authorities say the electricity used was stolen so the home's power bill didn't tip off investigators.

A neighbor, 42-year-old Anthony Williams, said he was shocked that the older couple across the street had such an operation - especially since they had regularly sold ice cream from a truck, often parked in front of the house - to the neighborhood children.

"That's hard to believe," Williams said, watching along with his son as cops carried bags of marijuana plants out of the house. "They are just two sweet old people. You'd never suspect them."

Betancourt and the home's other occupant, Sixto Campo, each could face up to three years in prison; Campo also declined to comment.

Their arrests are part of a coordinated local and federal law enforcement crackdown on indoor marijuana grow houses.

Last week in Seattle, authorities arrested 15 people and raided two garden shops that were part of a Vietnamese drug trafficking group accused of operating at least 19 marijuana grow houses around Puget Sound.

One San Francisco-based ethnic Chinese drug ring operated at least 50 marijuana grow houses in the Bay area that could produce pot valued on the street at $94 million, authorities claim. Major indoor marijuana rings have also been discovered recently in Atlanta, Houston and New England.

In Florida, such outfits are increasingly operated by Cuban-American crime syndicates. A Cuban-American organization based in Miami is setting up grow houses north in Gainesville, Jacksonville and even into Georgia and the Carolinas.

At a second Miami grow house raided Wednesday, the occupants had constructed two large interior rooms complete with separate air conditioning units. Three dozen plants found there were topped by whitish buds and were nearly ready for their quarterly harvest, when they would bring about $4,000 apiece, or close to $600,000 a year.

The lone unidentified man in the sparsely furnished house was handcuffed and placed in a police car before reporters were allowed in. He didn't resist arrest.

His neighbor, 75-year-old Clement Aday, said the home had been in foreclosure and was purchased about four months ago by people he rarely saw.

"There's going to be a lot more of it, because of the economy," Aday said of the pot crop. "People have to exist one way or another."

 

[yamaha_1fan]

What would it take to find out how these busts came about? Where they all linked somehow? Did they use the same hydro store?


And there goes another bust where someone was stealing electric

 

[EasyBakeIndica]

Over 150 grow houses were busted across the state yesterday. Many were linked (Cuban gangs). However, most were located by "tips from neighbors".

Here's an example of what took place in Palm Beach County:

"Starting with tips from neighbors, authorities in Palm Beach County pushed through 13 search warrants - 11 of which proved fruitful - and showed up at 38 other suspicious homes, finding pot-growing operations in seven of them. "

Federal, state, and local authorities did the same thing in at least 47 other counties.

Not surprisingly, it was all a political propaganda campaign. Tougher grow laws were approved by the state senate this morning.

http://www.wflxfox29.com/Global/story.asp?S=8255470&nav=menu98_3

 

[Guest]

I think it was mostly inside informants..A lot of those dudes get caught with other dope and go snitching.

triGG

 

[EasyBakeIndica]

When will people stop calling the COPS on themselves?!

When will people stop calling the COPS on themselves?!

Here's another little tidbit I ran across...

"...Agents recovered 108 marijuana plants from a residence, but made no arrests...After leaving the home, agents received a call from Juan Perez, the renter, telling them that someone had broken into the residence and he wanted to report it. They met with Perez, and, after they spoke with him, he was arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and renting property for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled substance."

 

[SomeGuy]

Here's another little tidbit I ran across...

"...Agents recovered 108 marijuana plants from a residence, but made no arrests...After leaving the home, agents received a call from Juan Perez, the renter, telling them that someone had broken into the residence and he wanted to report it. They met with Perez, and, after they spoke with him, he was arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and renting property for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled substance."

Honestly, how damn STUPID do you have to be to call the cops to your own damn grow?

 

[doja420]

Over 150 grow houses were busted across the state yesterday. Many were linked (Cuban gangs). However, most were located by "tips from neighbors".

Here's an example of what took place in Palm Beach County:

"Starting with tips from neighbors, authorities in Palm Beach County pushed through 13 search warrants - 11 of which proved fruitful - and showed up at 38 other suspicious homes, finding pot-growing operations in seven of them. "

Federal, state, and local authorities did the same thing in at least 47 other counties.

Not surprisingly, it was all a political propaganda campaign. Tougher grow laws were approved by the state senate this morning.

http://www.wflxfox29.com/Global/story.asp?S=8255470&nav=menu98_3

This is some bullshit. Great priorities we have here in FL. Gotta love it.

"The legislation would make it a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison to own a house where marijuana is being cultivated, packaged and distributed.

The bill would also reduce the number of marijuana plants that would have to be in a home for a person to be convicted of a second-degree felony, which would be punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Right now, a person would have to have 300 plants in their home to be convicted of a second-degree felony. But the bill would reduce that number to 25.

Also, if a child was living in the home, a person could spend up to 30 years in prison."

 

[kuff23]

ur right doja its bullshit their tryin 2 lower the rates from 300 plants to 25 plts for a 2degree felony,florida is trial state which is the try all the new bs laws here b4 they do anywhere.

 

[minigreens]

Mark R. Trouville, special agent in charge of the Miami office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. "It really is all about the money. It's phenomenal."

that is just too damn funny.

 

[doja420]

Mark R. Trouville, special agent in charge of the Miami office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. "It really is all about the money. It's phenomenal."

that is just too damn funny.

Yeah I laughed hysterically when I read that part.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

all this fine indoor hydro in florida, but when i visit i cant find nothing but mids and stress.. what bull...(ft. lauderdale, miani, tampa, orlando, 1000lakes, everywhere inbetween)

 

[goodmangigabyte]

Dayam. This big state wide bust in Florida. Earlier there were big grow house busts in Seattle and San Fran (mentioned in the FL article). Sounds like the feddies are really cracking down on the commercial ops. Wonder if any of those guys were icmaggers? Do you think the feds will target anyone on this site? I'm thinking no, because even the large scale growers on here are not really part of organized crime. But who knows. Still, this is a wake up call.

 

[Grizz]

Dayam. This big state wide bust in Florida. Earlier there were big grow house busts in Seattle and San Fran (mentioned in the FL article). Sounds like the feddies are really cracking down on the commercial ops. Wonder if any of those guys were icmaggers? Do you think the feds will target anyone on this site? I'm thinking no, because even the large scale growers on here are not really part of organized crime. But who knows. Still, this is a wake up call.

Man the fuckung feds and local yocals say and do what they wan't, If your growing there going to try to implicate you on any and every charge they can think of. Such bull shit over something that should me legal. If your Latino your growing for organized crime gang related whether you are or not, same goes for Blacks , Whites or what ever race you are, I mean come on 24 plants, that barley will supply a normal head for a year. I was recently popped with over a 100 plants and really got lucky with my charges and really don;t think I will do time, but just the thought of going to prison for growing a plant that is less harmfull than cigs and acahol is just plain stupid, Im really proud to be an American.....

 

[Guest 16149]

Hey Digitalhippy
THere is good stuff in Florida but you not gonna find it on the streets Gotta know someone
And this is not crappy haze
Prophet


Blue SOnja


Cherry Chunk

Elvis Kush

Maple Jelly

Pink Kush


Bubba Kush


These were grown all in Florida by 1 person in the last 6 months

 

[goodmangigabyte]

Man the fuckung feds and local yocals say and do what they wan't, If your growing there going to try to implicate you on any and every charge they can think of. Such bull shit over something that should me legal. If your Latino your growing for organized crime gang related whether you are or not, same goes for Blacks , Whites or what ever race you are, I mean come on 24 plants, that barley will supply a normal head for a year. I was recently popped with over a 100 plants and really got lucky with my charges and really don;t think I will do time, but just the thought of going to prison for growing a plant that is less harmfull than cigs and acahol is just plain stupid, Im really proud to be an American.....

Yeah, joesy, I hear you. I'm just kind of surprised that busting grow houses seems to be up there in the priorities of FL law enforcement. At least a lot of busts seem to happen there, from reading about busts. Maybe FL has a lot of growhouses, more than the national average (if there is such a thing).
That would explain why there seem to be more busts there.
Sucks though that they're starting to do large scale operations targeted to bust grow houses. I mean, really, the shit's just gonna be grown elsewhere or imported from other states or countries. Do you think that these large scale busts will have anything more than a small, temporary effect on the availability of mj in FL?
But I think the other purpose of busting grow houses is to prevent the alleged depression of home values caused by them. But that's a crock because no one ever knew they were grow houses until the popo busted them.

 

[doja420]

Yeah, joesy, I hear you. I'm just kind of surprised that busting grow houses seems to be up there in the priorities of FL law enforcement. At least a lot of busts seem to happen there, from reading about busts. Maybe FL has a lot of growhouses, more than the national average (if there is such a thing).
That would explain why there seem to be more busts there.
Sucks though that they're starting to do large scale operations targeted to bust grow houses. I mean, really, the shit's just gonna be grown elsewhere or imported from other states or countries. Do you think that these large scale busts will have anything more than a small, temporary effect on the availability of mj in FL?
But I think the other purpose of busting grow houses is to prevent the alleged depression of home values caused by them. But that's a crock because no one ever knew they were grow houses until the popo busted them.

Yeah man, FL is the second only to Cali in the # of growhouses. That's a crazy statistic, I didn't know it was that big out here until recently.

 

[Stealthy]

Like I said before...it's a sad day for small time Florida growers. Lots of small time personal growers are gonna be going away for a long time because of this misguided legislation.
Hey California...I see alot of transplants heading your way

 

[EasyBakeIndica]

DEA raided a house with no search warrant and found NOTHING...Family hires attorney.

DEA raided a house with no search warrant and found NOTHING...Family hires attorney.

Federal Agents Raid Wrong S. Fla. Home In Search For Drugs​

Apparently, the DEA was led there based off a 'tip', and had no warrant.

Video link: http://cbs4.com/local/house.drugs.marijuana.2.714507.html

OPA-LOCKA, Fla. -- Federal agents on the hunt for criminals on Thursday raided the wrong house while searching for drugs.

Police and federal agents raided 50 marijuana grow houses around Florida on Thursday, calling it "Operation D-Day."

They seized $7 million worth of pot plants, but they also kicked in the door of Noel Llorente's Opa-locka home and found nothing but bewildered homeowners.

"I was frightened for my husband because they threw him on the ground," Llorente's wife said. "I was scared.

Llorente said he was just leaving for work when unmarked cars pulled up, Drug Enforcement Administration agents jumped out, threw him down with guns drawn, handcuffed him, stormed into his home and searched for drugs.

"I asked them why they came to my house, they said a neighbor or somebody called and said I had a hydroponics lab in my house," Llorente said. "Then I asked them if a marijuana plant could grow inside my underwear drawer."

The Llorentes said they don't speak much English – they're immigrants from Cuba. They said one of the reasons they came to the U.S. was to escape oppression from the Cuban police.

Isabel Llorente said she never thought this could happen here.

"Never, because they criticize Cuba so much," she said. "I've never gone through anything like this."

She said what made it especially traumatic was not knowing if the agents were really police or imposters. She said she tried to call 911, but they wouldn't let her.

"What added salt to this injury was after the situation – house is searched, door is broken – they just walked away," the Llorentes' lawyer said. "Like, 'We're the government. We made a mistake.'"

The homeowner said he received only a minimal apology from police and federal agents.

"When I asked them about the door, they said, 'Sorry," Noel Llorente said. "When I asked them about my reputation, they said, 'Sorry.'"

http://www.nbc6.net/news/16139683/detail.html#