Thursday, February 22, 2007
Three homes busted for operating hydroponics labs
SOUTH MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Authorities made three arrests following the discovery of a series of fully operational hydroponics labs inside several homes in the same neighborhood.
The Miami-Dade Police Department's Narcotics Bureau initially recieved a tip regarding a grow house located at 29731 SW 164 Court. Authorities obtained one warrant for the first residence, but, after arriving at the scene, they realized that they needed at least two more.
Investigators received information after arriving to the home that two additional homes on the same block were also conducting fully operational hydroponics labs. Search warrants were executed for those residences where the tips proved to be 100 percent true.
Over 200 mature marijuana plants in total were recovered from the three homes, including laboratory equipment and drug paraphernalia.
Police arrested Jesus Rodriguez, 36, Jose R. Pita, 46, and Ciro Navarro, 52, all charged with trafficking in marijuana, cultivation of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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