A massive 2016 drug bust in Miami Lakes — the largest cash seizure in Miami-Dade history — is now the inspiration for the new Netflix film “The Rip,” starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.
According to the film’s synopsis, the actors portray Miami-Dade police officers who discover millions of dollars hidden in a derelict stash house, triggering tension and mistrust within their unit. While inspired by real events, the film takes creative liberties.
The real-life case began on June 28, 2016, when authorities raided a home off Northwest 169th Terrace and 77th Path linked to a suspected marijuana trafficker. Inside a hidden attic compartment, investigators found over $21 million stuffed into dozens of five-gallon buckets purchased from Home Depot.
Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez was arrested on drug and firearms charges, along with his sister, Salma Hernandez. Authorities said Hernandez-Gonzalez ran a Miami-Dade business called The Blossom Experience, a hydroponics and indoor gardening supply store.
Investigators alleged Hernandez-Gonzalez trafficked marijuana to Tennessee and had been under investigation since 2010. The store was raided during the operation, where police found drugs and $180,000 in a safe. Recorded phone calls allegedly captured him advising customers on how to grow marijuana.
In 2018, Hernandez-Gonzalez accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to money laundering and structuring bank deposits to avoid federal reporting requirements. As part of the agreement, drug trafficking charges were dropped, and he was allowed to keep $4 million, his home, his business, and five Rolex watches.
He was sentenced to 65 months in prison on April 25, 2018.
“The Rip,” directed by Joe Carnahan, is now streaming on Netflix.
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