An illegal marijuana grow operation was shut down in the Bronx on Friday, June 1, after a major raid at 967 Longfellow Avenue, just off Garrison Avenue. The location is directly across the street from the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, raising serious concerns among local parents, school staff, and the broader community.
According to the New York City Sheriff’s Office, more than 350 pounds of marijuana products were confiscated during the raid. The seizure included cannabis plants, packaged marijuana flower, THC edibles—many of which were designed to appeal to children—and illegal psychedelic mushrooms. Authorities described the operation as a sophisticated grow house operating without any legal authorization.
“That’s crazy, and it’s kind of shocking,” said Angel Vasquez, a parent of one of the students. Another mother, who preferred to remain anonymous, added, “Absolutely concerning. It was alarming enough when they had to shut down the street, and there were a lot of police out here.”
The school’s facilities manager, Daniel Diaz, also expressed concern about the discovery. “Nobody had any idea what was going on in there,” Diaz said. “There were people coming in and out. We thought maybe someone had moved in—people were there at all hours.”
Diaz noted that more than 250 elementary students typically play in the dead-end street during recess, just steps from the grow house. He often saw two men and two women near the building, whom he described as “rowdy” and “impatient” with the children.
“They didn’t care,” Diaz said. “When we asked them to wait because the kids were outside, they would just hop in their cars and drive off, sometimes even on the sidewalk.”
Officials say the discovery came about when the city's marshal’s office and utility company Con Edison attempted to repossess the building’s gas and electric meters. The location had already received multiple violations from the city and the utility provider, prompting the visit that ultimately exposed the illegal operation.
At the time of the raid, no individuals were found inside the premises. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing and that further legal action is expected as they work to identify those responsible for running the operation.
The incident has sparked new concerns about safety and enforcement in neighborhoods where schools and families live in close proximity to potentially dangerous illegal activities.