Bronx Pot Farm Had Street Value Of $7.5 Million

Via 1010 WINS

Yesterday, police raided a Bronx building which happened to house a five-story marijuana growing operation. Around 800 plants were seized, the equivalent of over 1500 pounds, including 75 pounds of dried marijuana. And the street value? Oh, around $7.5 million.

One shocked neighbor told WCBS 2, "That’s crazy…because I used to walk past this every single day. I live down the block on Garfield. Never even smelled nothing come out from this place," while another was glad the mystery was solved, explaining to the Daily News that eau de grass has been wafting through the air for the past two years, "Cops come on the block and smell weed and pull us over and harass us and no one is smoking."

Cops say that Brian Munoz, 24, Diego E. Reyes, 25, and Victor Reyes, 23, designed an intricate grow house, complete with "watering system, electrical system, carbon dioxide system and a ventilation system to help the high-grade marijuana grow." A source told the Post, "They were using enough electricity, grow lights and such to power an entire city block." The trio were charged with criminal possession of marijuana and criminal use of drug paraphernalia; it's believed they made $3 million last year.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 1, 2012 1:50 PM

Comments [rss]

randomtransplant

I've never understood growing pot in a city with such high utility costs. I'm glad people are willing to stick their necks out in pursuit of happiness & liberty, but from the perspective of business, you defiantly must be taking a hit. Heh heh. "Taking a hit".

SFNY

It makes great business sense: you're cutting out the middle men and reducing your transportation and distribution costs by having the manufacturing plant right here where the product is used. Vertical integration!

brooklynRick

3 Million...TAX FREE... Legalize it and Tax it already!

Politburo

An entire block? We're supposed to believe that the drop to the building was capable of handling that amount of current? Cmon.

randomtransplant

Jesus I just googled "grow lights" to point out how much wattage they suck up per sq foot & how they usually need modifications to your house to operate and now I'm no doubt on some list somewhere.

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

Way to shut down one of the last small manufacturing businesses in the city. Is the matzoh bakery still here, they had a cool multi-story set up. Another is Grado labs, each floor performs a different function.

YouandWhoseArmy3D

Upvote for Grado mention. :)

AzzTech

If only weed didn't stink...

"Tim Osman"

Aside from any potential connections to gangs and such the fact of the matter is that these people were conducting a business that has been deemed illegal for all the wrong reasons. The people that built this operation and made it run would be successful businessmen if cannabis was legal and the government and public would be reaping the benefits of taxes paid. Common sense is lost when it comes to society, laws and cannabis.