June 29, 2016: This image posted to Twitter by the Miami-Dade Police Department shows money and a Tec-9 handgun recovered from the home of a suspected marijuana trafficker. At least $24 million were recovered in a raid by police and federal agents. (Twitter/Miami-Dade Police Department)
Authorities in Miami have seized at least $24 million in cash following the Tuesday arrest of a suspected marijuana trafficker.
The Miami Herald reported that the bust is the largest in the history of the Miami-Dade Police Department and said officers were still counting the money Wednesday.
According to the Miami Herald, most of the cash was bundled in increments of $100, placed in vacuum-sealed bags, and stuffed inside dozens of orange Home Depot-branded buckets.
Tuesday's raid was the culminatin of a six-year--long investigation into Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez. The Herald reported that Hernandez-Gonzalez, 44, ran a North Miami store that sells equipment for indoor gardening. Investigators suspected the business catered to marijuana growers.
In addition to the raid on Gonzalez-Hernandez's house, where the cash was discovered, local police and federal agents raided the store, where they discovered marijuana seeds, marijuana labeled "Super Skunk" and "Chernobyl" and $180,000 in a safe.
Gonzalez-Hernandez, who reportedly admitted instructing his customers on how to grow marijuana, appeared in court Wednesday on charges of money laundering, marijuana trafficking and possession of a firearm while committing a felony, among other state charges. He ws ordered held on $4 million bail.
Gonzalez-Hernandez's sister, Salma Hernandez, was also arrested and charged with drug possession and conspiracy.
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