[Sativa]

Drug agents have discovered the largest marijuana crop ever found on a state wildlife area and one of the top five marijuana busts in the state's history.

The marijuana crops removed today from the Mackey Ford Wildlife Area on Rt. 762 in Pickaway County consisted of more than 10,000 plants with an estimated street value of $10.5 million.

Plants were being grown on Mackey Ford Wildlife Area on Rt. 762 in Pickaway County.

A state Division of Wildlife biologist working on the wildlife area May 16 saw a campsite in the woods and reported it to county wildlife officials. They went to investigate and found the marijuana.

The officers contacted the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Criminal of Identification and Investigation, and the Pickaway County sheriff.

They decided to watch the area for two weeks, hoping to catch the growers. But officials said they think the suspects were scared away by the first visit from wildlife officials.

At 6 a.m. today, helicopters flew overhead to make sure there was nobody at the site. Then agents went in on four wheelers to put the marijuana in bags.

Officials said they did not have enough evidence to point to specific suspects, but they believe the marijuana was being grown by Mexican nationals who came to the area to grow the drugs. They found phone numbers from Mexico, Mexican currency and food at the scene.



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Source: The Columbus Dispatch
Author: Josh Jarman
Contact: jjarman@dispatch.com
Copyright: 2007, The Columbus Dispatch
Website: The Columbus Dispatch : Agents find one of largest marijuana crops in state history