Four men who were arrested Friday by Leon County Sheriff's Office vice detectives remain in the Leon County Jail on $105,500 bail each on drug charges, with three of them also are being held for U.S. Immigration Services.
During searches on two homes in northeast Tallahassee, LCSO vice detectives located approximately 55 pounds of high-grade marijuana. The marijuana has a street value in excess of $2.5 million, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Arrested were: Wilmaer Lopez, 31; Maikel Somora, 25; Wilfredo Lopez, 66 and Andeslay Rodriquez, 35. All were charged with trafficking in marijuana, cultivation of marijuana, operating a dangerous drug house and possession of drug paraphernalia. Wilmaer Lopez, Somora and Rodriquez are being held without bail for Immigration Services, according to Leon County Jail records.
Sheriff Larry Campbell said "these types of grow houses started in South and Central Florida and are now springing up in our backyard. These operations and the subjects involved can be very dangerous because it is such a lucrative business."
During the 2008 Legislative session, lawmakers passed the Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act, which increases penalties for those convicted of growing marijuana in homes throughout Florida.
In a news release following the signing of the act, Florida Attorney General
Bill McCollum said, "As marijuana becomes more and more dangerous, grow houses are creating serious threats to our neighborhoods and communities. Not only is the new form of the drug much more potent, the grow houses often invite violence from rival operators."
The investigation began when Tallahassee Police Investigator Mike Randolph passed on information he had gathered to the Sheriff's Office. LCSO vice detectives began investigating and got warrants to search a house on Tommy Lee Trail, as well as one on Lord Murphy Trail, the LCSO report said.
Inside, detectives discovered nurseries for the immature plants, indoor irrigation systems, and artificial sun lighting sources, as well as the marijuana.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Tallahassee Democrat
Contact: tallahassee.com | Tallahassee Democrat
Copyright: 2009 Tallahassee Democrat
Website:Suspects in jail after pot arrests
During searches on two homes in northeast Tallahassee, LCSO vice detectives located approximately 55 pounds of high-grade marijuana. The marijuana has a street value in excess of $2.5 million, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Arrested were: Wilmaer Lopez, 31; Maikel Somora, 25; Wilfredo Lopez, 66 and Andeslay Rodriquez, 35. All were charged with trafficking in marijuana, cultivation of marijuana, operating a dangerous drug house and possession of drug paraphernalia. Wilmaer Lopez, Somora and Rodriquez are being held without bail for Immigration Services, according to Leon County Jail records.
Sheriff Larry Campbell said "these types of grow houses started in South and Central Florida and are now springing up in our backyard. These operations and the subjects involved can be very dangerous because it is such a lucrative business."
During the 2008 Legislative session, lawmakers passed the Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act, which increases penalties for those convicted of growing marijuana in homes throughout Florida.
In a news release following the signing of the act, Florida Attorney General
Bill McCollum said, "As marijuana becomes more and more dangerous, grow houses are creating serious threats to our neighborhoods and communities. Not only is the new form of the drug much more potent, the grow houses often invite violence from rival operators."
The investigation began when Tallahassee Police Investigator Mike Randolph passed on information he had gathered to the Sheriff's Office. LCSO vice detectives began investigating and got warrants to search a house on Tommy Lee Trail, as well as one on Lord Murphy Trail, the LCSO report said.
Inside, detectives discovered nurseries for the immature plants, indoor irrigation systems, and artificial sun lighting sources, as well as the marijuana.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Tallahassee Democrat
Contact: tallahassee.com | Tallahassee Democrat
Copyright: 2009 Tallahassee Democrat
Website:Suspects in jail after pot arrests