Eviction leads to cannabis bust at Bronx apartment: city officials

Editor’s note: The above video originally aired on Aug. 9, 2024.

BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) – An eviction for unpaid rent turned into a bust of an at-home cannabis operation, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda announced Thursday.

A tenant on Kelly Street in the Bronx was getting evicted for not paying rent when city officials noticed a full-blown cannabis processing operation in their basement apartment, according to Miranda.

Walls had been torn down and the apartment had multiple rooms full of plants, air filtration and irrigation systems and propane tanks, Miranda said.

“This is a residential building, this is not a building where you should be growing cannabis,” Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday.

So-called grow houses pose a slew of dangers to New York City, not just in the unregulated drug production but by causing fire risks and gas leaks, city officials said.

Adams has put particular focus on shutting down illegal smoke shops this year. Between just April and the end of July, law enforcement agencies shut down over 750 illegal cannabis shops in New York City , according to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Building management company Wavecrest Management released a statement Thursday.

“Our top priority is ensuring a safe and secure living environment for all residents. During an eviction process, our building manager and a City Marshal became aware of the situation and involved the appropriate authorities. We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities and follow all standard protocols.”

Wavecrest Management

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.