Drug authorities arrest 5 for La., Miss. marijuana trafficking

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Authorities said they arrested five men and seized thousands of dollars worth of pot plants, processed marijuana and hydroponic plant growing equipment as part of an ongoing investigation.

Inside four Mississippi homes, Harrison County Sheriff Melvin Brisolara said the narcotic units found elaborate marijuana growth operations.

The inside of the homes, authorities said, had been reconstructed - everything from wiring, lighting, even altering the air conditioning units to reduce the scent of marijuana.

“It takes a special electrician to go in and do that, carpenters to put the lining for the homes in. They make them look as normal as they can from the outside so none of the neighbors know what's going on,” said Brisolara.

Neighbors said they didn’t know about the operation.

“Wow, I couldn't believe it. They always waved to you and said hi, but I never dreamed that,” said a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.

She said she had no idea she was living near a growth house but did notice the blinds were always closed.

“I noticed this past weekend they were open, and they'd never been opened before so I was wondering if they moved out real quick or what happened. They are normally three or four cars in the driveway with different state tags. Louisiana, Florida, Alabama,” the neighbor said.

Harrison County, Miss. Sheriff’s Office officials, along with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration arrested William L. Gainza-Zaldivar, Yordan Gonzalez-Mendoza, Gonzalez Guerra-Reinier, Olfidio Morera Munoz and Reinier Brito Agular.

All face trafficking marijuana charges after Alabama State Troopers arrested them on I-10 Friday, January 25.

Authorities said the suspects were in two separate vehicles, but appeared to be traveling together when they were pulled over on  for improper lane usage.

They were booked into Baldwin County Jail, pending extradition to Mississippi.

In the ensuing investigation, authorities obtained a search warrant for several homes in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Mississippi and federal narcotics officials worked together to search the homes. Authorities said they found the residences were used as pieces of an elaborate pot grow operation:

• Beltline Road, Long Beach, Miss.: Agents seized about 108 marijuana plants, 1 pound of processed pot, hundreds of pounds of cut marijuana stems and hydroponic plant grow equipment.
• Starboard Dr., Pass Christian, Miss.: Agents seized about 85 plants and thousands of dollars in equipment.
• Palm Cove, Biloxi, Miss.:  40 pounds of processed marijuana in 40 individual bags. Several hundred pounds of cut stems and plant material and growing equipment.
• Dorothy Dr., Ocean Springs, Miss.: Agents seized thousands of dollars in plant growing equipment.

Zaldivar, Mendoza, Reinier, Munoz and Agular are all booked in Baldwin County Jail on $1 million bond, pending their extradition.

Officials said they are still searching for three other subjects related to this investigation: Luis Cabillas-Fernandez, Carlos Rojas and Argelio Rojas.