A maraschino cherry factory in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, was uncovered as a large-scale marijuana growing operation on Tuesday, after the owner killed himself.
City and state regulators raided Dell’s Maraschino Cherries over allegations that it might be dumping waste into nearby water, the New York Daily News reported.
Five hours into the raid, investigators noticed “flimsy shelving and a faint smell of marijuana”, according to ABC News, and told owner Arthur Mondella, 57, they would be back with a warrant. Mondella excused himself to his private bathroom, yelled to his sister “Take care of my kids!” and shot himself in the head.
Mondella died later at an area hospital, ABC News reported. Around 80lbs of marijuana was later found at the 38,000 square-foot family owned business.
Authorities are now beginning to question whether there are more discoveries to be made. “You don’t kill yourself over weed,” an unnamed law enforcement source told the Daily News. “There has to be more than that.”
Dell’s Maraschino Cherries supplied its syrup-soaked and dyed fruits to some of the largest restaurant chains in the US, including Olive Garden and TGI Fridays, according to the company’s website.
