Narcs Bust Roc-a-Fella Co-Founder Kareem Burke in Multistate Marijuana Ring

(Oct. 15) -- Law enforcement officials busted a major wholesale marijuana ring based in Florida and New York today, hauling in 45 people, including Kareem Burke, a rap mogul who founded the Roc-a-Fella record label with rapper Jay-Z and label executive Damon Dash in the '90s.

Burke was allegedly caught on a wiretap talking about "grow houses" with the alleged ringleader of the operation, Geovanny (Manny) Rodriguez Perez, according to New York affiliate WABC-7. Authorities say he will be charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute drugs.

Prosecutors say the marijuana was grown in houses in Florida and then trucked up to New York on tractor-trailers, hidden in among legitimate goods, the New York Daily News reports. The stash was then distributed by three groups in New York and New Jersey, and eventually ended up on the streets of New York. The cash from the sales was trucked back to Florida or was stuffed into luggage and carried on planes.

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The ring has been dominating the marijuana market in New York for the last 20 years, Jim Hayes, a special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleges. Burke reportedly became involved with the ring in 1992. Since then, they have netted $20 million in profits and have piped several tons of marijuana into New York City, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"Operation Green Venom" also nabbed Matthew Stang, an ad executive with High Times magazine, nearly $2 million in profits and more than 360 pounds of pot, according to The Associated Press.

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