A Cuban resident in Hialeah ended up detained after agents linked him to the theft of 142 avocados, valued at 852 dollars, from a farm in southwest Miami-Dade.
The suspect was identified as Duniel Areces-Gonzalez, 37 years old, while his Cuban origin was reported by América TeVe.
The authorities charged him with grand theft and unauthorized entry into a property.
The case began late on Sunday in the agricultural fields of Brooks Tropical, located at 15101 SW 200th Street, according to Local 10.
A Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office agent was patrolling the area as part of Operation Safe Summer 2026 when a white pickup truck parked at the end of the access to the property caught his attention.
Upon reviewing the registration, the authorities determined that the vehicle belonged to Areces-Gonzalez.
On the truck bed, there were 17 avocados, and not far away, four black construction bags filled with the same fruit appeared.
The search continued through other areas of the plantation, where the agents found two additional bags.
The total recovered amounted to 142 avocados, which was priced at approximately 852 dollars.
After the discovery, Areces-Gonzalez was taken to the offices of the Agricultural Patrol Section for questioning.
“Why do I need to talk to you? I was caught stealing avocados,” he reportedly said when a detective asked if he wanted to make a statement, according to the police report cited by Local 10.
However, he later chose not to answer any more questions.
WSVN 7News specified that the man was charged with third-degree grand theft and unauthorized entry onto property other than a structure or vehicle.
The accused was subsequently transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. As of Monday afternoon, he remained in custody and had a bond set at $3,000.
Areces-Gonzalez maintains the presumption of innocence, and the accusations will need to be examined during the appropriate judicial process.
The case recalls another incident that occurred in November 2024, when three Cubans were arrested for stealing around 1,000 pounds of avocados from a farm in southwestern Miami-Dade.
The accused faced charges of third-degree grand theft, illegal entry onto agricultural property, and property damage.
The authorities of Miami-Dade also recently warned that picking mangos or other fruits from private property without permission can lead to fines starting at 200 dollars and even criminal charges for theft.
Related videos:
Filed under: