Hillsborough County Deputies made several arrest, dismantling a "sophisticate operation" growing, trafficking and selling marijuana. According to several search warrants obtained by ABC Action News, deputies believe 11 houses in Hillsborough, Pasco and Marion Counties were involved in the ring as well as several people who would grow and sell the drugs.
Warrants say anonymous complaints in 2015 and 2016 spurred the investigation. While the majority of search warrants were served on May 9, the first connected grow house was raided by deputies in September 2016. That's when deputies found 83 plants in a home only about a half mile away from the Orient Road Jail. 24-year-old Lyan Gantes Hernandez was arrested then.
Through the investigation, deputies connected 10 other homes to the operations, most of them spanning Hillsborough County. One home with 84 plants inside is directly across from Folsom Elementary School in Thonotosassa. 43-year-old Onel Castillo and 47-year-old Daniella Monsegui Rodriguez were arrested at that home.
Other homes in Town N Country, Tampa and the University area were also raided. Police found a smaller operation at one of the homes, along with guns and ammo during several searches and packaged marijuana.
Other arrests associated with the ring include: 46-year-old Mireya Vigo Aramos, 44-year-old Rober Ramos Pena, 39-year-old Misael Cruz Perez and 28-year-old Ahmed Ali Kalil.
