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Search Warrant Uncovers Marijuana Grow House

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 7, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Yet another marijuana grow house operation has been shut down by the Pasco County sheriff's Vice Narcotics Unit.

Acting on a search warrant, deputies searched a home Tuesday night at 8505 Ehren Cutoff and discovered that the home was modified to grow marijuana, according to a report.

Drywall covered the home's windows and grow lights, several air-conditioning units and an irrigation system were also in use.

About 55 plants ranging from 4 feet to 7 feet tall were found inside, the report states.

Withlacoochee Electric workers confirmed what deputies thought: whoever set up the grow operation had bypassed the electrical meter and was stealing the electricity, the report states.

No one was home when the house was searched.

A day after the search, Raidel Coredero Artigas, 26, contacted the sheriff's office and said he started growing marijuana about three months ago and planned on selling his harvest, according to the report.

He also told a detective he had modified the home and tapped into the electrical service, the report states.

Artigas was arrested on charges of cultivation of marijuana and theft of utility services. He was released from Land O' Lakes Jail late Wednesday after posting $10,000 bail.

More grow operations have been popping up in Pasco in the past couple of years and they are becoming more sophisticated, sheriff's officials have said. Many times, growers steal electricity because utility companies have been trained to notice unusually high electricity use.

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