Sheriff Paul C. May has released the following information:

Reference: Marijuana Grow House raided, two Miami men arrested.

On 05/21/2010 at 9:10PM Deputies from the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force and Officers of the Okeechobee City Police served a search warrant on a Marijuana Grow House, in the rural Fort Drum subdivision of Northern Okeechobee County, 5190 NE 304^th Street, Okeechobee Florida.

Inside the home, on the kitchen counters, Officers found 127.7 grams of “finished Product” marijuana packaged in Ziploc bags along with other marijuana producing paraphernalia such as grinders, digital scales, and rolling papers.

Outside the home, in the two separate two car garages, the officers found the grow operation. There were 82 actively growing plants along with lights, timers, and air conditioning units used in the cultivation of marijuana. The estimated weight of these plants was 95.5 pounds.

The estimated value of the seizure was $380,000

Name/Race/Sex DOB	Charge(s)	Bond Total
	Cultivation of Marijuana Possession of Marijuana Trafficking of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia	$385,000
William Diaz W/M 05/31/76
	Cultivation of Marijuana Possession of Marijuana Trafficking of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia	$385,000
Elman Montero Rodriguez W/M 08/11/74

Sheriff Paul C. May said of the raid, “We are determined to rid our county of these grow operations and we will work tirelessly to do it!”

(As always, the nature of the probable cause to obtain the search warrant is privileged information and will not be released.)

For any further information, please contact:
Detective Ted Van Deman, Public Information Officer
Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office
504 NW 4th Street
Okeechobee, Florida 34972
(863) 763-3117
(863) 763-7157 fax
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