Miami-Dade Grow House Yields Bumper Crop — For Cops

HOMESTEAD, FL — A southwest Miami-Dade grow house yielded a bumper crop — for the police. Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, officers confiscated 192 marijuana plants with a total weight of 1,692.5 pounds and a potential street value of $3.8 million during a raid at the “Nursery Spot” plant nursery.

"Investigators discovered a fully operational marijuana hydroponic laboratory inside two large makeshift structures enclosed by a dark screen," explained Detective Alvaro Zabaleta of the Miami-Dade Police Department. "This is one of the largest marijuana hydroponics seizures in the history of Miami-Dade Police Department."

Forty-nine-year-old Juan Oliva-Villar was charged with Trafficking Marijuana, according to Miami-Dade police. The nursery is located at 16901 SW 200 Street. Police conducted the raid on May 30 but released the information on Thursday.

“This investigation is another example of our continued collaboration with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office to arrest and prosecute narcotics offenders,” said Miami-Dade Police Director Juan J. Perez.

"We continue to work together on long- and short-term investigations with the goal of taking illegal drugs out of our community," added Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

"Drug traffickers should recognize that doing business in Miami-Dade’s neighborhoods will put them behind bars,” said Fernandez Rundle.

To report a tip, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477, visit crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip" or text "CSMD" followed by the tip to 274637.

Photo courtesy Miami-Dade Police Department