Cops found $24 million hidden in a marijuana suspect's home on Tuesday, making the discovery the largest money seizure in the history of the Miami-Dade Police Department.
According to WTVJ, authorities took Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez, 44, and his sister Salma Hernandez, 32, into custody after they found the money stuffed in dozens of five-gallon buckets in a hidden compartment inside the home.
The investigation was conducted by the Miami-Dade police and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The Miami Herald wrote that the money, mostly $100 bills, was bundled in heat-sealed bags and placed in Home Depot-brand buckets.
Hernandez-Gonzalez was charged with money laundering, cannabis trafficking, conspire to traffic cannabis, unlawful use of communication, possession of cannabis, weapon/possession while committing an offence, and possession of place/purpose of trafficking,
according to a statement from the Miami-Dade police.
The Herald wrote that bond was set for Hernandez-Gonzalez at more than $4 million, while his sister was given a $12,500 bond on Wednesday.
"Acting on information received from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Nashville District Office, (Miami-Dade Police) narcotics detectives obtained a search warrant for the business of Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez located at 7207 NW 54 St.," said the Miami-Dade Police statement.
"Once inside the business, they discovered a safe with large sums of money. The investigation then led detectives to the residence of Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez. A secondary search warrant was executed at the residence where detectives discovered sealed packages of money stored in buckets concealed within the walls," the statement continued.
Authorities told WTVJ that Hernandez-Gonzalez had been the target of a law enforcement investigation since 2010 because of information they received from informants about the area drug trade. Hernandez-Gonzalez runs The Blossom Experience, an indoor gardening store in Miami-Dade.
During the raid at the store, authorities found drugs as well as $180,000 in a safe.
The Miami Herald said police found buckets inside a master bedroom closet that could only be accessed through the attic, along with vials of steroids, and a loaded pistol. Detectives punched a hole into the hallway wall to remove the buckets.
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