Pasco deputies seize 171 pot plants at upscale grow house

LAND O'LAKES — Authorities raided a marijuana grow house Friday morning in the upscale, gated community of Lake Talia.

Deputies seized 171 marijuana plants at the 2,686-square-foot home at 5039 Hartwell Loop, according to Kevin Doll, spokesman for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Doll said the person running the grow house — who has not been caught — rented the home. According to property records, the house was bought from the community developer, U.S. Homes Corp., in 2005 for $395,500. The owners live in Las Vegas, records state.

This is the fifth suburban grow house to be busted in Pasco County in recent weeks. In mid October, four homes were raided — all large rental properties in upscale communities in central Pasco. Four people were arrested and, at the time, Doll said all worked together in the marijuana ring.

Doll said he doesn't believe Friday's bust is connected to the October raids.