Two men were arrested this morning after police executing a search warrant discovered a marijuana grow operation inside a home in the northeast Cape.
Omar Dominguez Esparza, 38, of 4716 E. 9th Court, Hialeah, and Mandiel Espinosa, 40, of 4955 N.W. 199 St., Cape Coral, each were charged with trafficking of marijuana in excess of 25 pounds or 300 plants or more and public order crimes – criminal attempt to solicit or conspire.
Police executing the warrant at 3219 N.E. 13th Court at 1:30 a.m. say the home smelled of fresh marijuana and inside they found soil, 60 marijuana root systems and 88.5 pounds of the drug.
Throughout the residence, investigators found buckets, water pumps, large garbage cans used to contain water, fans, plant nutrients and fertilizers. All of the home except for the kitchen, garage and one bedroom were covered with insulation and the windows were covered with drywall.
Arrest reports state Esparza was recognized as the owner of record of the 13th Court home and Espinosa has been paying the electric bill since Feb. 24. Esparza paid the electric bill from Sept. 24, 2007 to Feb. 24, 2009, the report states, citing LCEC records obtained via subpoena.