Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said today that a five-story house full of marijuana plants in the Bronx was a “sophisticated operation” that brought in $3 million each year.
Three people were arrested after cops arrived Tuesday afternoon, finding 593 marijuana plants and 75 pounds of packaged marijuana in the five-story Bronx house.
Police charged Brian Munoz, 24, Diego Reyes, 25, and Victor Reyes, 23, with possession of marijuana and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
The entire operation brought in about $7.5 million total, Kelly said, and had likely been in business for at least six months.
“They were into it in a big way,” Kelly said.
Some of the plants grew to seven feet at the Morris Park Avenue home, according to the NYPD.
Kelly said the building also had a special ventilation and hydration system to deter any smell from the large number of plants.
“I think 600 plants can give off an odor even if they’re not being smoked,” he said.
They were also stealing electricity, enough “that it would light up a city block,” he said.
The investigation began after they received a tip in November, Kelly said.
Different kinds of plants apparently went through different growing stages on separate floors, according to NBC, which reported police believe the building was used as a marijuana farm.
