Cubans Dominate Illegal Pot Growhouse Trade in Florida, Drug and Law Enforcement Officials Say

Sun Sentinel ^ | Oct. 30, 2009 | Sun Sentinel

[AuntB]

Cuban refugees are dominating arrests in Florida's indoor marijuana trade in what investigators call a nearly punishment-free crime.

....young Cubans throughout the state are turning to the lucrative business of raising ultra-potent pot worth up to $4,500 a pound, without fear of deportation or lengthy prison sentences.

Probation is a common sentence for anyone convicted in state court of running a growhouse, drug agents say. And, unlike other foreign-born felons, U.S. policy prevents the deportation of Cubans.

South Florida groups identified by law enforcement as Cuban Drug Trafficking Organizations control hundreds of growhouses that have sprung up from Miami to Atlanta

"This is organized crime at its best."

Supervisors .... estimate that 85 percent to 90 percent of the suspects arrested in Florida on grow-house-related charges were Cubans who arrived in the United States within the past five years. ..... that in Palm Beach, out of 36 arrests, 90 to 95 percent were Cuban. In Miami-Dade, out of 92 arrests, 95 percent arrested were Cubans.

Now growhouses employ electricians who move from house to house to find ways to get power directly and bypass the meters.

A spreadsheet on every grow-house bust in Polk County since 2005 shows that 142 of 172 suspects -- 84 percent -- caught tending marijuana growhouses have identified their place of birth as Cuba.

In the United States last year, 49,500 Cubans were granted legal permanent residency status, according to the Congressional Research Service.

This much authorities know: Whoever is calling the shots in the Cuban indoor-grow groups is reading U.S. and Florida statutes about drug crimes and penalties. They know to keep the number of plants under 100, the number that would expose them to tough federal sentences. "It's big business," Cunneen said of indoor-grown pot. "It's big bucks."

[AuntB]

" Probation is a common sentence for anyone convicted in state court of running a growhouse, drug agents say. And, unlike other foreign-born felons, U.S. policy prevents the deportation of Cubans."

Another absurd policy!

[Soothesayer9]

Never attribute to avarice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

[Kenny Bunk]

I am shocked, Aunt B, Shocked I tell you, at your callous disregard for the health of countless citizens who need that Tetrahydracannabinol to live rich and productive lives! Single-handedly, these Cubano yutes are preventing a massive Glaucoma epidemic that would other wise dwarf the killer swine flu disaster which has already killed a dozen or so citizens across the nation.

It is obvious to me that these young refugees from a dirty communist regime just 90 miles from our shores, are not in it for the money. They are the true pioneers of indoor agriculture, and the non-hallucinogenic parts of their crop can be used to make Che Guevara and Obama Tee shirts, knapsacks, shopping bags, and Banana Republic-type trendy garments.

Since they are only given probation, perhaps they can pay for that electricity?

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Don't lose sight of the real issue here folks — the carbon footprint! Why is pot being grown indoors in the “Sunshine State”? It's a double whammy, carbon-footprint wise. First, electricity is consumed by the lights — then more electricity is consumed by the A/C, to pump out the extra heat. Forget the DEA, sic Al Gore on these guys.

[tet68]

Since they are only given probation, perhaps they can pay for that electricity?

Why? Isn’t there some government grant to help them
pay for it? Aid to dependent Druggies?
Cuban Growers Relief Fund?
Stimulus Stipend for Itinerant Farmers?

Surely there is something?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“”The last thing we want to do in law enforcement is crucify the Cuban-American community as a whole — they have made South Florida what it is today,” said Capt. Joe Mendez”

[Kenny Bunk]

Why? Isn’t there some government grant to help them pay for it?

And I, (SOB) accused poor old Aunt B of being callous! Forgive me. I'll bring it up at the ACORN Board Meeting.

Is there a racial angle I could bring in? For example, are only white Cubans involved in this fascinating trade? That's unfair. Black Hispanics are an overlooked minority.

Do you have la Justicia Sotomayor's cell phone #?

[TLI]

A spreadsheet on every grow-house bust in Polk County since 2005 shows that 142 of 172 suspects -- 84 percent -- caught tending marijuana growhouses have identified their place of birth as Cuba.

Golly, it's not the Amish?

[Kenny Bunk]

Never underestimate the craftiness of Norwegians, as they disguise themselves frequently as African-Americans, Muslims, and Latinos.

Note to Law Enforcement: If a suspect says, "My name is Ole, and I yam a carpainter from Minniesoda," book'im. Obvious dope dealer. Or terrorist. And for God's sake, be careful!

[razorback-bert]

$4,500 a pound

Whatever happened to the $15 lid?

[tet68]

There are white cubans? I just figures they were all some
kind of island clan. I suppose the next thing you’ll try
and tell me is there are asian/cubans. Although
I suppose there ARE Angolan Cubans...

[tet68]

Or would that be Cubangolians?

Oh, and the days of $10 ozs are long gone, but I DO
remember them.

Ha ha ha, I had a friend who made a million smuggling
pot in from Mexico, he told me later he lost it all
in the stock market. That’s capitalism for ya.