By Jonathan Tully
The Palm Beach Post
MIAMI — Miami-Dade Police raided a home as part of a drug investigation Tuesday, resulting in the biggest money seizure in its history.
And all the money was in buckets.
According to NBC 6 in Miami, more than $24 million was discovered in the Miami Lakes home of Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez as he was taken into custody on drug and firearms charges. His sister, Salma Hernandez, was also arrested.
Police found the money inside dozens of orange 5-gallon buckets inside an attic compartment, NBC 6 reported. NPR reported that the compartment was located below the attic floor. The Miami Herald reported this compartment was “guarded by a hallway statuette of St. Lazarus.”
#BreakingNews: MDPD Narcotics detectives arrest 2, seize millions?and recover a high powered weapon? in NW Dade pic.twitter.com/MWIbeBHEqX
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) June 29, 2016
Authorities became aware of Hernandez-Gonzalez’s connection to selling drugs when investigators wiretapped his phone, according to NPR. Hernandez-Gonzalez was heard giving advice on how to keep pot plants healthy, telling one client to be patient when oxygenating such plants.
NBC 6 said Hernandez-Gonzalez runs the Blossom Experience, a hydroponics garden supplies store in Miami. The store was also raided, and officers found drugs and $180,000 in a safe.
At Hernandez-Gonzalez’ home, NPR reported that police also found pot seeds, steroids and a loaded Tec-9.
Copyright 2016 The Palm Beach Post