Police find $24 million in cash within walls of home

Huge amount of cash found stashed in buckets

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. – A raid at the home of a suspected Miami-Dade drug trafficker turned up $24 million in cash sealed in buckets within the walls of the residence, law enforcement authorities said.

The money was grouped in bundles of $100 bills, authorities said.

The seizure on Tuesday also turned up several packages of steroids and a high-powered automatic weapon, officials said.

Drug Enforcement Administration officials said the Miami-Dade Police Narcotics Bureau raided the Miami Lakes home of Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez and Salma Hernandez.

Hernandez-Gonzalez, 44, owns a store that specializes in equipment for indoor gardening.

He was being investigated as part of a group trafficking marijuana out of Tennessee, officials said. The investigation included wiretaps of conversations in which Hernandez-Gonzalez shared tips with an unnamed person on how to properly care for marijuana plants, they said.

Hernandez-Gonzalez faces multiple charges, including money laundering and cannabis trafficking.

Salma Hernandez was arrested on charges of operating a place for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a place for the purpose of trafficking/conspiracy.