Florida police find underground hydroponics lab beneath pool

HOMESTEAD, Fla., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A seatbelt traffic citation in South Florida ended with Miami-Dade police discovering a “fully functional hydroponic marijuana lab located underground” containing 82 pot plants in a Homestead community.

The lab was wired with electricity and covered up by an unused swimming pool.

Officers became suspicious when the driver of a Range Rover was stopped near the home for a seatbelt violation and there was a strong marijuana odor inside the vehicle. A search of the SUV turned up bags containing approximately five pounds of marijuana.

After police obtained written consent to go into the home, Valexy Quintero Consuegra, 37, Marley Torres Denis, 27, and Eddy Peláez Ramírez, 44, were arrested and charged with trafficking and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. The suspects were also charged with stealing electricity from Florida Power & Light to power the lab.

Neighbors reportedly thought that the home was in foreclosure.

[Sun Sentinel] [Bradenton Herald]