KEY LARGO, Fla. — Local 10 News is getting an exclusive look at more than 150 pounds of marijuana and other materials discovered in the Florida Keys.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, a crew working on U.S. 1, near Mile Marker 107, made the find on Tuesday, discovering seven trash bags stuffed near a fence and the mangroves.
“The odor of marijuana is obvious,” said Paul Bean, the director of special investigations for MCSO. “It was obvious to the gentleman that reported it.”
Bean said the bags weren’t just filled with weed. They contained the makings of a grow house.
“Grow operations are unceasingly complex, especially in South Florida. They’re used to finance other things - even up to terrorism,” Bean said.
Evidence Director Melissa Johnson said root enhancer, mulch, and vacuum seal bags were found among the marijuana stems and buds.
There were also bags used for growing plants.
“These would be the marijuana growing bags,” she said. “You can see where the roots were inside of the bags.”
This is far from the first haul of drugs discovered this year in the Florida Keys.
According to the sheriff’s office, just in the last month and a half, bales of pot were found in Key Largo, and several bricks of cocaine were found washed up in Islamorada and floating offshore.
An investigation into this latest discovery is now on.
“We’re going to process this for forensics and see if we can find some suspects,” Bean said.
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