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June 4, 2010

ICE, PRPD shut down clandestine hydroponic lab and seize 124 plants of marijuana in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents working jointly with Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) officers seized 124 plants of marijuana this morning from a clandestine hydroponic laboratory in the municipality of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.

In May 2010, ICE agents received information of an alleged stash house of illegal aliens in a rural sector of Trujillo Alto, which was also used for harvesting and preparing narcotics for distribution by undocumented aliens.

A survey of the residence by ICE and PRPD revealed that all the house windows were hermetically sealed and an industrial-size air conditioning compressor was being used outside.

On June 3, ICE and PRPD conducted a surveillance of the premises and observed two individuals moving two marijuana plants from a small structure of the house to the inside of the main building.

This morning, ICE and PRPD executed a search warrant inside the residence and found 124 plants of marijuana, three-feet high and with a total approximate weight of 500 pounds.

"ICE and our law enforcement partners in the PRPD not tolerate this brazen disregard for U.S. law," said Roberto Escobar-Vargas, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in San Juan. "Our ICE agents and officers prevented thousands of dollars of marijuana from being distributed throughout our communities."

Although there were no arrests during today's search warrant, the ICE investigation continues.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.