Sheriff’s Office: ‘Grow Away ‘ operation nets five grow houses in Lehigh
Investigators with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics/Vice Unit and Field Support Unit conducted a Marijuana Grow House Eradication Operation in Lehigh Acres Friday, resulting in the location of five grown houses and eight arrests, officials said.
Three teams investigated 26 possible grow house addresses which were received through Crime Stopper tips, and other anonymous citizen complaints. Five grow houses were dismantled and eight subjects were arrested for the following:
1. 146 Wanatah Ave. S., Lehigh Acres. 20 Plants seized.
Arrested Abel Montes Chiu, 36
– Isleidy Sotolongo, 30
Both were arrested for Marijuana Cultivation, Trafficking Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Having Minor Present w/ Drugs Being Manufactured.
2. 1100 Gerald Ave. Lehigh Acres. 8 Plants seized.
Arrested Randolph Miller, 44
Cultivation, Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams
3. 2506 61st St. W. Lehigh Acres. 31 Plants seized and approximately 2.5 pounds of marijuana packaged for sale.
Arrested Yeneir Alvarez, 38
– Danian Vazquez, 27
Both were arrested for Marijuana Cultivation, Trafficking Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Having Minor Present w/ Drugs Being Manufactured.
4. 2253 E. 11th St. Lehigh Acres. 17 Plants seized.
Arrested Roberto Hernandez, 28
– Marlies Lopez, 21
– Nora Alonso, 60
All were arrested for Marijuana Cultivation and Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams.
5. 3904 E. 3rd St. Lehigh Acres. 94 Plants seized and approximately 18 pounds of marijuana packaged for sale.
This investigation is still ongoing at this time.
Three children from two of the above addresses were turned over to the Department of Children and Families.
The total number of plants seized was 170 with a street value of $340,000, officials said in a prepared statement released Friday, ading the packaged marijuana had a street value of $60,000.
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office