News (Media Awareness Project) - US FL: Pot-House Busts Continue To Grow |
| Title: | US FL: Pot-House Busts Continue To Grow |
| Published On: | 2006-09-25 |
| Source: | News-Press (FL) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-17 23:43:02 |
POT-HOUSE BUSTS CONTINUE TO GROW
Cape, Lehigh, Collier Raids Part Of Organized, Dangerous Trend
Perhaps it was how the neighbors always kept the shades drawn and
garage doors closed.
Maybe it could have been the skunky smell that wafted through the
air, or the fact that the house seemed somewhat abandoned altogether.
"I didn't know what it was exactly," Cape Coral resident Linda Barr
said, "but I knew they were doing something they shouldn't be."
Last October police raided the house on Southeast 15th Street,
busting two men for running an extensive marijuana cultivation
operation where 103 plants valued at $250,000 were seized.
That was just one in a string of elaborate efforts, also known as
grow houses, that authorities in Southwest Florida and beyond have
broken up in the past year.
In the Cape, where the majority of Lee County busts have taken place,
there have been 34 raids so far this year - 11 more than the total for 2005.
In Lehigh Acres, where Lee County sheriff's spokesman Angelo Vaughn
said all of his department's recent busts have gone down, 14 grow
houses have been found since January 2005.
Last year in Collier County, there were 35 busts - by far the highest
in the past four years.
And just last week, officials in Port St. Lucie on Florida's east
coast announced the breakup of a grow-house ring that included more
than 50 houses and 4,000 pounds of the plant that yielded millions of
dollars each harvest.
What Gives With The Growth?
"Drug operations tend to follow trends," Cape Coral Deputy Chief Rob
Petrovich said. "Back in the 1980s and '90s, we saw a lot of acid
(LSD) and crack cocaine. Now, one of the newest trends seems to be
grow houses."
But it's not just the sale of the plant authorities are concerned
about. Growers, they said, are becoming more organized - and more dangerous.
Police are finding weapons such as AK-47s and automatic rifles during
pot house raids. In June, a shootout in Lehigh on Chambers Street was
the result of what Vaughn called "a drug transaction that didn't go
as planned."
Guns have been found in the past six or so stings the sheriff's
office has worked in Lehigh, according to Sgt. John Haberman of the
Lee County Sheriff's Office narcotics task force.
Growers typically arm themselves for protection against other
dealers, he said, but the threat is enough to make authorities even
more determined to attack the issue.
"This type of crime perpetuates other types of crime," Haberman said.
"These particular groups are also involved in all kinds of theft and
even human smuggling."
Lt. Nelson Shadrick of the Collier County Sheriff's Vice and
Narcotics Unit said the problem also is with the kinds of people the
drug trade attracts.
"You could have a situation where someone comes to rip off the wrong
house, and they don't care whether there are innocent people there or
not," he said.
In addition to increased crime, other problems that can result from
having a grow house nearby include noxious and possibly poisonous
fumes from mold or chemicals, as well as fires and electrocution
caused by an inexperienced person trying to rewire circuits to steal energy.
Those arrested have tended to be transient residents, with many
migrating from Miami and Fort Lauderdale in search of more affordable
housing and locations that are more remote.
Shelly Flynn, spokeswoman for Fort Myers police, said the department
has not had a bust there "for years" because housing in that city is
denser, making it easier to spot strange activity.
But that's why growers have been attracted to Lehigh, the Cape and
parts of Collier County, where certain stretches are not as developed
as those in surrounding cities.
"They think they can move into this area where they might not have
watchful neighbors," Haberman said.
More Sophisticated
But neighbors such as Linda Barr are becoming more common.
"Now that it's gotten out that we're seeing more and more of these, I
think people are becoming more suspicious and more likely to report
it," Haberman said.
Still, with technology and crime cells becoming highly sophisticated,
the signs are starting to be difficult to recognize.
"Unfortunately, this isn't just the old guy sitting in his house
growing a few plants for personal use anymore," Haberman said. "These
are people who are well-connected and know what they're doing."
While Collier County has seen somewhat of a drop-off in activity this
year - down to nine houses from 35 in 2005 - Shadrick said it could
just be the operations are better hidden.
"We can't let our guard down on this," he said.
Money-Making Operations
Each operation needs anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 worth of
equipment - all of which can be bought at a nearby home improvement store.
That cost is quickly offset, with each adult plant worth an estimated
$1,000 and harvests rolling around about four times a year.
And the green stuff - the kind that doesn't grow on stems - is what
it's all about.
"It's not a humanitarian effort," Petrovich said. "One of the ways to
eliminate this trend is to eliminate their profit."
Prosecution A Priority
He said that's done by law enforcement following each tip and
cracking down on the operations they do find.
Convictions for marijuana cultivation can land a person in prison for
anywhere from five to 30 years, depending on how many plants are
found and how much they weigh, according to Chere Avery, state
attorney's office spokeswoman.
For the next fiscal year, Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2007, Cape Coral police
requested an additional 40 officers. Although not solely for the
purpose of cracking down on grow houses, Petrovich said more officers
mean more hands on the pulse of what's going on in the city.
"In general," he said, "when our staffing is where we want it to be,
we can be proactive instead of reactive to these types of issues."
Haberman said several grow houses have been found by observant
deputies on patrol.
"There has definitely been an increase in these operations, but the
recent upswing in arrests is partly us being more in tune to what's
going on," he said.
His agency also has been working closely with electricians, mail
carriers and any other professional groups that might come in regular
contact with homes.
But police say vigilant residents help most.
Barr, a 16-year resident, said police did an "excellent" job in
addressing her concerns.
"We don't want that stuff here," she said. "They may have thought
they could get away with it, but they picked the wrong neighborhood.
[Sidebar]
WARNING SIGNS OF A GROW HOUSE
o Residents rarely appear to be at home and attend the house for
brief periods of time. Despite this, radios or televisions may be
left on all night, making it sound as if someone is there.
o Visitors behave strangely or visit at odd hours.
o Entry to the home is often made through the garage or side/back
entrance to conceal activities.
o Windows are boarded or covered, preventing light from entering the
house and concealing the activities inside.
o Equipment such as large fans, lights and plastic plant containers
are carried into the home.
o Strange, skunk-like odors come from the house.
o Exterior appearance of the property is untidy.
o Warning signs such as "Beware of Dog" are posted in the windows or
around the outside of the house.
Source: Niagara Regional Police Service
[sidebar]
RECENT BUSTS
o July 18: After four months of investigation, Lee County sheriff's
deputies served search warrants on two houses in Lehigh Acres and
found 160 marijuana plants between operations at [address redacted],
and [address redacted]. Four were arrested and charged with marijuana
trafficking and attempted soliciting of marijuana sales. In April,
deputies had confiscated other plants in connection with the same
operation at [address redacted] All told, deputies seized 331 plants
with an estimated street value of $350,000.
o July 7: Cape Coral police, along with two federal agencies, served
a search warrant on three homes at [address redacted], [address
redacted] and [address redacted] and found extensive marijuana
cultivation operations in each. In all, detectives seized 228
marijuana plants with an estimated street value of more than $1
million. Three were arrested and charged with possession with intent
to distribute.
o June 20: Sheriff's deputies found 73 marijuana plants, worth about
$1,000 each, growing in a garage at [address redacted]. One man was
arrested and charged with growing marijuana and owning marijuana-
growing equipment.
o Feb. 25: Sheriff's deputies raided a house at[address redacted]. in
Lehigh Acres, seizing 118 live marijuana plants with an estimated
street value of $118,000. One man was arrested and charged with
cultivating and trafficking marijuana.
o Feb. 17: After a three-month investigation, sheriff's deputies
raided a house at [address redacted]. in Lehigh Acres, discovering
180 plants with an estimated value of $180,000 in the garage. One man
was arrested.
o Feb. 10: Cape Coral police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration served a search warrant at [address redacted] and
found 24 marijuana plants and elaborate air conditioning, lighting
and irrigation systems. The estimated street value was more than
$100,000. Two were charged with cultivation of marijuana and one also
was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after
five rifles and handguns were found in one of the bedrooms.
o Jan. 27: Police arrest one man after raiding a home at [address
redacted] where they found 134 marijuana plants, valued at about
$500,000. Because there were more than 100 plants found, the case was
turned over to federal authorities.
Cape, Lehigh, Collier Raids Part Of Organized, Dangerous Trend
Perhaps it was how the neighbors always kept the shades drawn and
garage doors closed.
Maybe it could have been the skunky smell that wafted through the
air, or the fact that the house seemed somewhat abandoned altogether.
"I didn't know what it was exactly," Cape Coral resident Linda Barr
said, "but I knew they were doing something they shouldn't be."
Last October police raided the house on Southeast 15th Street,
busting two men for running an extensive marijuana cultivation
operation where 103 plants valued at $250,000 were seized.
That was just one in a string of elaborate efforts, also known as
grow houses, that authorities in Southwest Florida and beyond have
broken up in the past year.
In the Cape, where the majority of Lee County busts have taken place,
there have been 34 raids so far this year - 11 more than the total for 2005.
In Lehigh Acres, where Lee County sheriff's spokesman Angelo Vaughn
said all of his department's recent busts have gone down, 14 grow
houses have been found since January 2005.
Last year in Collier County, there were 35 busts - by far the highest
in the past four years.
And just last week, officials in Port St. Lucie on Florida's east
coast announced the breakup of a grow-house ring that included more
than 50 houses and 4,000 pounds of the plant that yielded millions of
dollars each harvest.
What Gives With The Growth?
"Drug operations tend to follow trends," Cape Coral Deputy Chief Rob
Petrovich said. "Back in the 1980s and '90s, we saw a lot of acid
(LSD) and crack cocaine. Now, one of the newest trends seems to be
grow houses."
But it's not just the sale of the plant authorities are concerned
about. Growers, they said, are becoming more organized - and more dangerous.
Police are finding weapons such as AK-47s and automatic rifles during
pot house raids. In June, a shootout in Lehigh on Chambers Street was
the result of what Vaughn called "a drug transaction that didn't go
as planned."
Guns have been found in the past six or so stings the sheriff's
office has worked in Lehigh, according to Sgt. John Haberman of the
Lee County Sheriff's Office narcotics task force.
Growers typically arm themselves for protection against other
dealers, he said, but the threat is enough to make authorities even
more determined to attack the issue.
"This type of crime perpetuates other types of crime," Haberman said.
"These particular groups are also involved in all kinds of theft and
even human smuggling."
Lt. Nelson Shadrick of the Collier County Sheriff's Vice and
Narcotics Unit said the problem also is with the kinds of people the
drug trade attracts.
"You could have a situation where someone comes to rip off the wrong
house, and they don't care whether there are innocent people there or
not," he said.
In addition to increased crime, other problems that can result from
having a grow house nearby include noxious and possibly poisonous
fumes from mold or chemicals, as well as fires and electrocution
caused by an inexperienced person trying to rewire circuits to steal energy.
Those arrested have tended to be transient residents, with many
migrating from Miami and Fort Lauderdale in search of more affordable
housing and locations that are more remote.
Shelly Flynn, spokeswoman for Fort Myers police, said the department
has not had a bust there "for years" because housing in that city is
denser, making it easier to spot strange activity.
But that's why growers have been attracted to Lehigh, the Cape and
parts of Collier County, where certain stretches are not as developed
as those in surrounding cities.
"They think they can move into this area where they might not have
watchful neighbors," Haberman said.
More Sophisticated
But neighbors such as Linda Barr are becoming more common.
"Now that it's gotten out that we're seeing more and more of these, I
think people are becoming more suspicious and more likely to report
it," Haberman said.
Still, with technology and crime cells becoming highly sophisticated,
the signs are starting to be difficult to recognize.
"Unfortunately, this isn't just the old guy sitting in his house
growing a few plants for personal use anymore," Haberman said. "These
are people who are well-connected and know what they're doing."
While Collier County has seen somewhat of a drop-off in activity this
year - down to nine houses from 35 in 2005 - Shadrick said it could
just be the operations are better hidden.
"We can't let our guard down on this," he said.
Money-Making Operations
Each operation needs anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 worth of
equipment - all of which can be bought at a nearby home improvement store.
That cost is quickly offset, with each adult plant worth an estimated
$1,000 and harvests rolling around about four times a year.
And the green stuff - the kind that doesn't grow on stems - is what
it's all about.
"It's not a humanitarian effort," Petrovich said. "One of the ways to
eliminate this trend is to eliminate their profit."
Prosecution A Priority
He said that's done by law enforcement following each tip and
cracking down on the operations they do find.
Convictions for marijuana cultivation can land a person in prison for
anywhere from five to 30 years, depending on how many plants are
found and how much they weigh, according to Chere Avery, state
attorney's office spokeswoman.
For the next fiscal year, Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2007, Cape Coral police
requested an additional 40 officers. Although not solely for the
purpose of cracking down on grow houses, Petrovich said more officers
mean more hands on the pulse of what's going on in the city.
"In general," he said, "when our staffing is where we want it to be,
we can be proactive instead of reactive to these types of issues."
Haberman said several grow houses have been found by observant
deputies on patrol.
"There has definitely been an increase in these operations, but the
recent upswing in arrests is partly us being more in tune to what's
going on," he said.
His agency also has been working closely with electricians, mail
carriers and any other professional groups that might come in regular
contact with homes.
But police say vigilant residents help most.
Barr, a 16-year resident, said police did an "excellent" job in
addressing her concerns.
"We don't want that stuff here," she said. "They may have thought
they could get away with it, but they picked the wrong neighborhood.
[Sidebar]
WARNING SIGNS OF A GROW HOUSE
o Residents rarely appear to be at home and attend the house for
brief periods of time. Despite this, radios or televisions may be
left on all night, making it sound as if someone is there.
o Visitors behave strangely or visit at odd hours.
o Entry to the home is often made through the garage or side/back
entrance to conceal activities.
o Windows are boarded or covered, preventing light from entering the
house and concealing the activities inside.
o Equipment such as large fans, lights and plastic plant containers
are carried into the home.
o Strange, skunk-like odors come from the house.
o Exterior appearance of the property is untidy.
o Warning signs such as "Beware of Dog" are posted in the windows or
around the outside of the house.
Source: Niagara Regional Police Service
[sidebar]
RECENT BUSTS
o July 18: After four months of investigation, Lee County sheriff's
deputies served search warrants on two houses in Lehigh Acres and
found 160 marijuana plants between operations at [address redacted],
and [address redacted]. Four were arrested and charged with marijuana
trafficking and attempted soliciting of marijuana sales. In April,
deputies had confiscated other plants in connection with the same
operation at [address redacted] All told, deputies seized 331 plants
with an estimated street value of $350,000.
o July 7: Cape Coral police, along with two federal agencies, served
a search warrant on three homes at [address redacted], [address
redacted] and [address redacted] and found extensive marijuana
cultivation operations in each. In all, detectives seized 228
marijuana plants with an estimated street value of more than $1
million. Three were arrested and charged with possession with intent
to distribute.
o June 20: Sheriff's deputies found 73 marijuana plants, worth about
$1,000 each, growing in a garage at [address redacted]. One man was
arrested and charged with growing marijuana and owning marijuana-
growing equipment.
o Feb. 25: Sheriff's deputies raided a house at[address redacted]. in
Lehigh Acres, seizing 118 live marijuana plants with an estimated
street value of $118,000. One man was arrested and charged with
cultivating and trafficking marijuana.
o Feb. 17: After a three-month investigation, sheriff's deputies
raided a house at [address redacted]. in Lehigh Acres, discovering
180 plants with an estimated value of $180,000 in the garage. One man
was arrested.
o Feb. 10: Cape Coral police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration served a search warrant at [address redacted] and
found 24 marijuana plants and elaborate air conditioning, lighting
and irrigation systems. The estimated street value was more than
$100,000. Two were charged with cultivation of marijuana and one also
was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after
five rifles and handguns were found in one of the bedrooms.
o Jan. 27: Police arrest one man after raiding a home at [address
redacted] where they found 134 marijuana plants, valued at about
$500,000. Because there were more than 100 plants found, the case was
turned over to federal authorities.
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