[Sativa]

MOUNT COMFORT, Ind. -- Two brothers had a sophisticated marijuana-growing operation in a rented warehouse that they claimed headquartered their construction business, the Hancock County Sheriff's Department said.

Alvin and Will Vanover were arrested last week after officers found nearly 200 marijuana plants in the warehouse at the Mount Comfort Industrial Park, authorities said.

Police said they confiscated the plants as well as lights, carbon dioxide generators and other items used to grow the marijuana. The sheriff's department said the marijuana operation was the largest it had seen.

The brothers had claimed they were running a construction company from the building, and they had construction vehicles parked outside, Sheriff Bud Gray said.

"It would have had every appearance to be a legitimate construction company, but our records would indicate there was very little construction, if any, being done," Gray told 6News' Ray Cortopassi.

Police said they searched the warehouse after someone reported smelling marijuana from outside the building.

Dale Thornberry, who rented the warehouse to the brothers, said he had no way of knowing about the marijuana. He said background checks on the Vanovers had been clean.

"I was just shocked at how elaborate (the marijuana operation was) and how much energy and effort (it took)," Thornberry said. "They built a 3,000-square-foot grow room, and it was like a house inside my building."

The Vanovers posted bond after their arrests on felony charges of possessing and cultivating marijuana.


Will Vanover (left) and Alvin Vanover



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Website: Company Was Front For Marijuana Growing, Police Say