POT BUST SNARES 6 ALLEGED GROWERS

SNOHOMISH COUNTY -- Officers arrested six people in
connection with a marijuana-growing operation
Wednesday and seized 1,750 high-quality pot plants
worth about $1.75 million.

The Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force raided six
houses in Snohomish County and one in King County. The
task force seized nearly $200,000 and 19 vehicles,
thought to be profits from selling the marijuana.

During the 17-hour bust, detectives uncovered
sophisticated indoor growing operations at each of the
residences, detective Sgt. Jim Duffy said.

"These were well-tended, excellent plants," Duffy
said. "These were some of the best operations we've
ever seen."

The growers came under investigation more than a year
ago when detectives received a tip about the indoor
operations. The men and women who were arrested had
their own setups, but it appeared they had been
working together and using the same sophisticated
methods, he said.

The suspects were booked into Snohomish County Jail,
but have since posted bail.

The growers, in their 20s and 30s, did not have
criminal histories, Duffy said.

Because of the size of the growing operations, the
task force will push for federal charges against the
growers, he said.

The task force bagged the marijuana, which will be
dried and stored until criminal hearings. It then will
be destroyed.

Snohomish County sheriff's deputies, Everett and
Marysville police, agents from the Drug Enforcement
Administration and U.S. Customs, and members of the
South County Drug Task Force aided in the serving of
search warrants.

This bust comes on the heels of a recent outdoor sting
that turned up about 250 marijuana plants.

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or
hefley@heraldnet.com.


By Diana Hefley
Herald Writer