Major Marijuana Bust in Phoenix: Sheriff’s Office Uncovers Sophisticated Operation
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has made a significant bust in Phoenix, uncovering what officials describe as “one of the largest illegal marijuana grows seen in over a decade.” The operation, which was hidden behind a business complex in the area of 40th Street and McDowell Road, is believed to have been shipping products across the country.
According to Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, the bust was the result of a multi-million dollar UPS account that was used to ship the illegal marijuana. The account was tipped off by narcotics detectives, who then conducted three months of surveillance before making the arrests.
The operation was found to be highly sophisticated, with every square inch of the facility covered in illegal marijuana. The sheriff’s office estimates that the operation was worth millions of dollars.
The bust is believed to be linked to violent crimes, including murder, and has been a source of concern for law enforcement. “There’s a lot of fighting over the money,” said Sheriff Sheridan. “There’s been people been murdered over this marijuana grow, so it’s not just marijuana.”
So far, three people have been detained in connection with the bust, and detectives are working to collect and process evidence from the facility. The case will be presented to the Attorney General for possible charges.
The sheriff’s office is warning that the illegal marijuana trade is not only a threat to public safety but also a major source of revenue for organized crime. “A bust at this scale deals a crippling blow to the sources of supply that are selling this in schools and shooting up neighborhoods,” said Lt. RJ Neville with MCSO Narcotics. “I’m talking about kids that are 14 years of age that we’ve found with thousands of pounds of marijuana, selling on social media in your kids’ high schools.”
