Label Co-Founder Busted For Pot Smuggling

A major law enforcement raid on an alleged marijuana smuggling ring based in New York and Florida resulted in 45 arrests Oct. 15 including a co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records.

Manhattan federal prosecutors said that Kareem Burke, who founded the hip-hop label with Damon Dash and Jay-Z, was allegedly heard discussing “grow houses” with the operation’s ringleader during a wiretap.

“Operation Green Venom” reportedly seized more than 360 pounds of pot and nearly $2 million in drug proceeds as a result of an 18-month investigation by members of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York, Drug Enforcement Administration and the New York Police Department.

The alleged drug ring had reportedly been in operation for about 20 years.

Prosecutors allege the marijuana was grown in Florida and smuggled to New York in tractor-trailers loaded with legit merchandise.