Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Busts Massive Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation
In a significant crackdown on illegal drug activity, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has uncovered a massive marijuana growing operation in Phoenix. The operation, which is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in over a decade, was discovered near 40th Street and McDowell.
According to Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, the operation was the result of a three-month-long investigation prompted by a tip from a shipper. The investigation revealed that the operation was not only growing and packaging large quantities of marijuana but also selling and shipping the product to smaller distributors across the country.
During the raid, MCSO detectives seized hundreds of marijuana plants and large quantities of processed marijuana, valued at over a million dollars. The sheriff estimated that the total value of the seized marijuana could be as high as two million dollars.
Three individuals were detained during the raid, and the MCSO is working with the Arizona Attorney General’s office to determine charges. The sheriff described the operation as “sophisticated” and emphasized that all aspects of the operation were illegal.
In addition to the main growing facility, detectives also raided a second facility in Mesa used for packing and shipping the product. The MCSO is working to disrupt the illegal drug trade and bring those responsible to justice.