Police raided a business on Melrose Avenue on Feb. 9 after undercover officers purchased drugs from an individual at the store on at least three occasions.

The DNA Hydroponics store has been closed following a police raid. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The raid took place around 9 p.m at DNA Hydroponics, located at 7306 Melrose Ave. According to Lt. Russ Wong, head of the gang impact team and Narcotics Unit at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division, investigators had been aware that illegal drug sales were occurring at the site for the past couple of months. Wong said investigators had learned about the drug sales through information gathered on the street, and were not notified by residents in the neighborhood. He said the illegal operation was not openly identifiable, but word had gotten out that drugs were for sale at the site.

“We received some information and then verified it though an undercover operation,” Wong said. “There were apparently a variety of drugs being sold there, including cocaine, marijuana and meth.”

Two people were arrested at the store when the raid occurred, but Wong said the names were being withheld pending charges being filed. He said one arrestee was a man in his mid to late 20s, who was the suspected drug dealer. A woman was also taken into custody but subsequently released without being charged, and is not believed to be directly tied to the sales.

Officer Art Gallegos, the senior lead officer for the Melrose Shopping District, accompanied personnel from the Narcotics Unit on the raid. He said the store sold equipment, soil and other materials used to grow plants indoors, but there was very little merchandise present when the raid occurred.

“It was definitely a front, as far as being a hydroponics store,” Gallegos said. “They had very few supplies on hand, it was one of those places where people would go to get dope. We did some controlled buys, which gave us probable cause to go forward with the operation.”

Gallegos said during the raid, officers seized approximately one-eighth of an ounce of cocaine, an undisclosed amount of marijuana and a loaded, unregistered handgun. He added that undercover officers had previously purchased Ecstasy from the suspect, and had been told that heroin was also for sale.

“The suspect had told officers that he could get them anything,” Gallegos added. “It was a good bust.”

Gallegos said he was surprised to initially learn about the drug sales at the store.

“No one knew about it. It was surprising to learn this guy was working the streets,” Gallegos added. “It is a rarity. We get a lot of complaints about the medical marijuana clinics, but this was taking it a step further.”

Both Wong and Gallegos said marijuana was illegally being sold at the site, but the business was not involved in the sale of medical marijuana. Wong added that the hydroponic equipment sold there is sometimes used to grow marijuana. Wong said he did not know how long the store had been in operation, and added that he did not know who exactly owned the shop. The store has been closed since the raid.

Wong added that investigators will be pursuing abatement proceedings against the store to force it to close permanently. Frank Mateljan, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, said no action has been taken yet because officials are still waiting on the necessary paperwork from the police department.

Wong added that members of the public are encouraged to report any drug activity to the Wilshire Division’s Narcotics Unit at (213)473-0425.