VENUS - A Venus man and woman remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $151,500 bond each Thursday, after they were arrested in connection with a marijuana grow house operation at their home.
Reniel Ramos Pina, 29, and Marta Antonia Barrios, 50, both of 44 Cannon Court, Venus, were booked Wednesday on charges of production of marijuana, possession of marijuana more than 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle said Thursday that the pair was not at home when they arrived at the house Wednesday at about 8:44 p.m. They set up a surveillance to watch for them. There is only one entrance and exit to Cannon Court, he said.
LaBelle said he saw their vehicle pass his at his surveillance point and enter Cannon Court. When they saw the sheriff's vehicles and trucks from the power company, they stopped and tried to back up. That's when they closed in.
The pair told deputies they lived at the home, but said they had no knowledge of a grow operation, the report stated.
Inside the three-bedroom home deputies found a fully operational grow house operation in two rooms with 48 live marijuana plants and the usual list of equipment, 1000 watt grow lamps, ballasts, irrigation system, foam insulation board and timers.
A diversion of electrical power was also found in the soffit of the house, the arrest report stated.
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