Deputies Charge Two in Hillsborough Drug Bust

TBadmin | May 24, 2018

The manufacturing and distribution operation was one of the largest synthetic marijuana busts in department history, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

HILLSBBOROUGH COUNTY – Deputies made one of the largest synthetic marijuana busts in department history this month with the seizure of about 525 pounds of the drug, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

The drugs had a street value of about $500,000.

Donya Hussein, 45, of Plant City, and Roger Wakim, 40, of Brandon, were each charged with one count of trafficking in illegal drugs, 30 kilograms or more; and one count of own. lease or rent property for the purpose of trafficking illegal drugs. The two were running what deputies described as an “elaborate manufacturing and distribution operation in East Hillsborough County.”

Both have bonded out of jail. Deputies said Wakim was also arrested in March 2017 and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent.

In April, detectives assigned to the Hillsborough sheriff’s special investigations division received a tip that large amounts of synthetic marijuana or “spice,” were being manufactured and distributed out of a residential address located at 3216 Little Road in Valrico.

Detectives, helped by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Investigations, brought the investigation to a close May 15 and 16 with the execution of three court-authorized search warrants.

About nine pounds of synthetic marijuana were found in a storage unit at 2108 Jelane Drive.

A search of the Little Road residence by the clandestine laboratory abatement team, revealed several items of drug paraphernalia used to package, manufacture and distribute spice, U.S. currency, and ledgers and documents related to spice manufacturing and distribution. Additionally, about 525 pounds of spice in various forms and stages of manufacture, with an estimated street value of more than $500,000 were also on the premises.

At 4801 Calhoun Road, detectives said they found more records and documentation related to the drug operation and small amounts of spice.