A major marijuana dealer was arrested last week by police in Pelham. According to reports, officers discovered the operation after a six-month investigation into marijuana supply in the area.
When they searched the location, police discovered “about 12 pounds” of marijuana as well as the equipment to package it for resale. Also taken were some prescription drugs, money and a whopping 16 firearms. The weed was apparently hidden behind a false wall, indicating to police that this was more than just a casual operation.
The main player, Stephen Lagasse, was charged with possession as well as intent to distribute – both for the weed and the prescription drugs. Two others were arrested and charged with possession.
The false wall concealed a storage area, accessed through a hinged mirror. Police said the marijuana was worth in excess of $25,000. Video of the haul can be seen here.
Interestingly, the marijuana was stored as buds in glass jars – reminiscent of how marijuana is sold in medical marijuana stores. This is a far cry from compressed blocks of weed containing stems and seeds. The product looks high end and may have been sold in small, custom amounts.
Police continue to investigate – checking the serial numbers of the guns and finding out more about the prescription drugs (some shown had pharmacy labels still attached). There may be more arrests in the case.
For now, cops are saying it was a sophisticated operation and a relatively large bust for the area.
