Press Release
STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION TARGETS RESIDENTIAL HYDROPONIC MARIJUANA GROW HOUSES
June 12, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Timothy Wagner, Director, South Florida HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), Robert Parker, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, and Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade County State Attorney, announced the preliminary results of Operation Eagle Claw, a coordinated law enforcement effort aimed at dismantling suspected hydroponic marijuana grow houses throughout the State of Florida. This operation, coordinated by the South Florida HIDTA in conjunction with the Central Florida and North Florida HIDTA offices, created a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in 67 Florida counties. Law enforcement in Georgia also participated in this coordinated regional event.
The operation culminated on Thursday, June 11, 2009, with the statewide seizure of 6,828 marijuana plants, 45 firearms, and the arrest of 142 individuals involved in 120 residential hydroponic marijuana labs. In South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties), this round-up yielded more than 2,651marijuana plants from 620 grow houses, and led to the arrest of 73 individuals. The resulting cases will be prosecuted by local and federal authorities.
HIDTA is an initiative of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. South Florida HIDTA, in particular, encompasses Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. The mission of the HIDTA program, nationally and locally, is to disrupt the domestic market for illegal drugs by providing assistance and support to participating federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to dismantle local drug trafficking networks. Since its inception in 1990, HIDTA has been a key player in multi-agency federal, state and local drug task forces throughout South Florida. The Operation being announced today is an example of the strong coordination that exists among HIDTA regional programs. The main goal of today's Operation is to unite federal, state and local offices to combat the rise in hydroponics grow house laboratories in the State of Florida.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Sloman stated, "Residential marijuana grow house operations often lead to an increase in violence, crime and hazardous conditions to the surrounding neighborhoods. For these reasons, we are pleased to support HIDTA and our state and local partners in this Operation, and to bring the weight of federal prosecution upon those involved in this dangerous drug business."
Tim Wagner, Executive Director of the South Florida HIDTA, stated, "The rise in the number of residential marijuana grow labs in our communities has resulted in the need for unprecedented cooperation among all levels of law enforcement throughout Florida. Yesterday's accomplishments are proof that law enforcement in Florida has risen to the challenge. We will continue our coordinated attacks on these criminal organizations until this serious threat to our communities is eradicated."
Miami Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle stated, "Organized crime has crept into our residential neighborhoods through the virus-like increase in hydroponic marijuana grow houses. The violence and gun activity, which are always a part of the atmosphere associated with these perceived high-profit enterprises, can easily spill out onto our streets. We have put together a massive law enforcement machine in our continuing efforts to eradicate every single one of these dangerous and illegal operations. We intend to keep our neighborhoods safe."
"Residential marijuana labs pose severe risks to their neighbors, including physical injury from explosions, fires, toxic fumes, electrocution, environmental hazards, and endanger the welfare of our children. These labs often result in an increase in violent crimes, including burglaries and home invasions. In fact, the violence spilling from these grow houses has been connected to the October 22, 2008, shooting of a MDPD Narcotics Detective investigating such an operation. For these reasons, the Miami-Dade Police Department is proud to partner with South Florida's HIDTA, federal and state law enforcement, and state and federal prosecutors' offices, to help shut down these operations," said Director Robert Parker of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sloman commended the leadership of the South Florida HIDTA in coordinating this state-wide effort. Sloman also thanked ICE’s Office of Investigations, the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office, the Florida Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Miami Dade Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the Broward County Sheriff's Office, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, and the many federal, state, county, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the State of Florida who participated in and supported Operation Eagle Claw.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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