Men facing trafficking charges following grow house bust
Two Cape Coral men are facing drug trafficking charges following a grow house bust last week.
Juan Daniel Lopez Jr., 36, of 1712 N.W. Sixth Place, and Sean Michael Merrigan, 46, of 2723 S.W. 17th Place, were arrested and charged with one count each of marijuana traffic excess of 23 pounds or 300 plants or more and marijuana producing, as well as three counts of drug equipment possess and or use.
As of Tuesday, they had been released from the Lee County Jail on $59,500 bond each.
Lopez did not return a message seeking comment on the charges against him.
Merrigan could not be reached for comment Tuesday on the allegations.
At about 9:46 p.m. Thursday, Cape police executed a search warrant at a home at 2735 N.W. Third Terrace. The department had received intelligence that a marijuana grow operation was present.
Lopez and Merrigan were detained as they were backing out of the home’s driveway.
According to a report, the residence was outfitted for a marijuana cultivation operation and was partitioned into various rooms for the facilitation of the operation. Police identified two cultivation rooms on the north side and a marijuana drying room, as well as various rooms used for storage.
Officials reported that the investigation yielded a total of 31 marijuana plants, including eight full-grown ones and 13 “baby” ones. The weight of the seized marijuana was 119.7 pounds in total.
The street value of the drugs is estimated at in excess of $75,000 to $100,000.
Police also seized a large amount of drug paraphernalia used to support the operation.
Merrigan reportedly told detectives that he was aware of the operation, but Lopez was the owner. He only drove Lopez to and from the home because Lopez was paranoid people were tracking his vehicle.
Lopez requested to speak to an attorney, according to the report.
Both were taken into custody and transported to the jail.
“Our VIN (Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics) detectives and Street Crimes officers are working tirelessly to target operations like this,” Sgt. Dana Coston, of the Cape Coral Police Department, said. “Their successes are a direct result of the partnership we enjoy with our citizens who want Cape Coral to remain one of the safest cities in Florida.”
Lopez and Merrigan have court appearances scheduled for Sept. 29.