Pubdate: Mon, 18 Sep 2006
Source: Miami Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2006 The Miami Herald
Contact:  http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/262
Author: Diana Moskovitz

SMOKE LEADS POLICE TO MARIJUANA LAB

HOLLYWOOD(FL) - A Hollywood home with $300,000 worth of marijuana 
almost went up in smoke Sunday night.

Shortly before 6 p.m., someone called to say there was smoke coming 
from a house in the 1500 block of North 70th Way, Hollywood police 
spokesman Capt. Tony Rode said. Responding firefighters and police 
saw no flames, but did see smoke inside, Rode said.

No one was home, and hurricane shutters covered some windows, Rode 
said. Firefighters went inside and saw a full-blown hydroponics lab, Rode said.

The lab included 75 adult marijuana plants and lots of wires. Some 
wires were exposed and may have caused the smoke, Rode said.

The plants had a street value of between $250,000 and $300,000, Rode 
said. Officers are investigating who was behind the lab, Rode said.

Florida Power & Light also is looking into whether the lab's creators 
stole electricity from neighbors or by tampering with meters, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine