Detectives with the Slidell Police Department's Drug Task Force arrested a local man last Friday who was allegedly planning to grow high priced, highly specialized marijuana in his family's garage using hydroponic gardening methods.
Christopher Sever, 28, of 1337 Independence Dr., was taken into custody on a pair of drug-related charges after police discovered one pound of marijuana and several pieces of growing equipment in his garage following an Aug. 5 raid, Slidell Police Drug Task Force Lt. Kevin Swann said.
Police first noticed Sever in early July when neighbors in the Heritage Estates subdivision noticed suspicious activity at his home. Led by Drug Task Force Sgt. Nicky Mistretta, Slidell Police and member of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency monitored Sever for one month. After gathering information through surveillance and interviews, Police raided Sever's home Friday, Aug. 5.
Besides the marijuana, police confiscated over $15,000 in specialized equipment used to grow hydroponics marijuana, a potent and lucrative form of the narcotic, said Swann. Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants without soil using nutrient-rich water. Designed for indoor gardening, hydroponic gardening uses controlled conditions to growth richer, more potent products at a fast rate without the use of pesticides. Only a few seeds are needed to start a large crop, said police.
"It's an increasingly popular form of growing marijuana," said Slidell Police Chief Freddy Drennan. "Since it is growing inside the plants are not subject to drought, to rain, or to animals. We are starting to see a lot more of it coming into the Slidell area."
During the raid police confiscated 60 three-holed PVC pipes used to grow the plants, air conditioners, humidifiers, several1000 watt halogen light bulbs, a carbon dioxide generator, a micro-climate controller, water pumps and specialized nutrients for the plants. Most of the equipment stashed in the garage was not assembled during the time of the raid, said Swann.
Besides its high potency, hydroponics marijuana is also a highly profitable drug, said police. Current street value of hydroponics marijuana is $3,000 to $6,000 a pound. With the ability to grow 180 plants at one plant per pound, Sever could have made between $500,000 and a $ 1 million by the time his first crop was sold, police said.
Following the raid police charged Sever with possession and intent to distribute a schedule I controlled dangerous substance and with the creation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance. If convicted Sever could face up to 45 years in prison and a $75,000 fine. Sever, who recently moved back to Slidell, told investigators he is also facing charges in Ohio for possessing 564 plants. Slidell Police officials were still attempting to confirm that information as of yesterday afternoon.