News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2009
Contact: Special Agent David Melenkevitz
Number: 954-660-4602

DEA Gets to the Root of Grow Operation

SEP 30 -- FORT MYERS – Nine people were arrested as the Drug Enforcement Administration and several local law enforcement agencies got to the root of a large scale indoor hydroponic marijuana grow operation that extended from Sarasota to Miami Dade Counties. Jose R. Diaz and Herman Torres were arrested and charged in a two count indictment with conspiracy to manufacture one hundred or more marijuana plants and possession with intent to distribute one hundred or more marijuana plants. Also arrested were Manuel Torres, Roberto Pineda, Damian C. Alvarez, Ivan Curbelo, Alexys Gonzalez, Osiel Marin, and Veronica Torres. They are all in Count One of the same indictment charging them with conspiracy to manufacture one hundred or more marijuana plants.

“The DEA has been very successful in bringing many of our local counterparts together to target entire organizations of marijuana grow house operators instead of numerous individual houses” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville. “The end result is we are getting everything down to the root and not just the leaves”.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Miami Dade Police Department, and Broward Sheriff’s Office, Naples Police Department and North Port Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida will prosecute the defendants.

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