Detectives say a St. Petersburg man was busted running a drug operation involving more than $1 million worth of marijuana.
Vaughn "Nino Breeze" Matthews, 24, is facing charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Police say they found 23 pounds of marijuana, guns and cash in his apartment
- Investigators say they found 230 pounds in total of marijuana, worth more than $1 million
- One man arrested, additional arrests pending
Detectives say they had been aware of Matthews for several years. They received a tip that he was storing large quantities of marijuana in his apartment on Ibis Walk Place N, which led them to obtain a search warrant.
On March 23, investigators went into his apartment and found 23 pounds of high-grade hydroponic marijuana that was packaged and ready for distribution inside his kitchen cabinets, the report said. Detectives say they also found three guns and $87,000 in suspected drug money.
For the next month, detectives continued to investigate Matthews, and they say ultimately they were able to identify about 230 pounds of marijuana - including the 23 pounds found his house apartment - and $168,000 case associated with his operation.
Police say 230 pounds of marijuana has a street value of $1,150,000.
The U.S. Postal Service assisted police with the investigation.
Police say additional arrests of Matthews' associates are pending.