Large Marijuana Operation Busted

A months-long investigation into marijuana-growing oprerations by the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcment Team (NET) has yielded six arrests and the seizure of 51 pounds of packaged pot and 319 plants valued at $430,000.

The bust is the second major one in recent days in Lexington County. 

In this latest bust, Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said on Wednesday the arrests and seizures of marijuana plants and packaged marijuana resulted from an eight-month undercover investigation that NET officers conducted concerning a large-scale, sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation that was based in homes in western Lexington County. 

(See photos of the growing operations).

In each home that was used in the marijuana growing operation, electricity was connected illegally from power poles to the residences, where the illicit electricity was used to power a sophisticated system of grow lights and irrigation equipment.

Arrested in the operation: 

Ruben Cabrera, 38, of 3014 Pond Branch Road near Leesville, on charges of trafficking in marijuana and conspiring to manufacture marijuana. Officers seized 36 pounds of marijuana, which was packaged for distribution, in Cabrera’s bedroom at the home. Cabrera had begun construction to operate an indoor marijuana growing operation at the home, officers said.

Officers found the marijuana packaged in 12 bricks that each weighed three pounds, Metts said. The packaged marijuana was stored in a tool bag in a closet in the master bedroom at Cabrera’s home. Officers also found $3,250 in cash that was stored in a woman’s shoe in a second closet in the bedroom. Officers seized the marijuana and cash.

Carlos Hernandez, 60, 237 Hayride Road near Gilbert, on a charge of trafficking in marijuana. Officers found 111 marijuana plants and indoor marijuana growing operations that were set up inside Hernandez’s home as well as one trailer and one shed outside the home, Metts said. Officers seized the marijuana plants and two firearms that officers found in Hernandez’s vehicle.

Juan Manuel Padreda, 47, Osniel Cruz Padreda, 22, of 710 Mackinaw Road near Batesburg, on charges of manufacturing marijuana. Officers found 22 marijuana plants and an indoor marijuana growing operation at a shed outside Juan Padreda’s home, Metts said. Officers seized the marijuana plants and $543 in cash.

Oscar Rodriguez, 44, of 309 Buck Smith Road, Leesville, and Benita Pavon Roman, 47, of 313 Neely Wingard Road, Gilbert, on charges of trafficking in marijuana and manufacturing marijuana.

The pair are alleged with operating out of a home at 518 Hallman Mill Road near Leesville, where officers found 15 pounds of high-grade marijuana that was packaged in one-pound bags for distribution, Metts said. Officers also found 47 marijuana plants and an indoor marijuana growing operation at the residence.

Further, specially trained correctional officers at the county Detention Center who work under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) determined that Rodriguez and Roman entered the United States illegally from Mexico. The correctional officers placed detainers on Rodriguez and Roman, pending further action by ICE.

Those arrested were each being held on Wednesday at the county Detention Center while awaiting bond hearings, Metts said.

In addition to the six arrests, Metts said more arrests could come after searches of two other homes yielded marijuana.

Officers executed a search warrant at a home at 1428 Brodie Road near Leesville, where they found and seized 95 marijuana plants and uncovered an indoor marijuana growing operation that is associated with other marijuana growing operations found during the investigation, Metts said. Officers are continuing to investigate who lived and grew pot at the home. 

Finally, officers executed a search warrant at a home at 624 Pine Grove Road near Leesville, where they found and seized 44 marijuana plants. Metts said that indoor marijuana growing operation also is associated with the others and that officers are trying to determine who lived there as well.

Metts said the case remains under investigation. Officers are continuing to investigate where marijuana from the indoor marijuana growing operations was sold and how the marijuana was distributed. 

Metts asked anyone with information about indoor marijuana growing operations to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department web site.