Authorities in Colorado seized $4.2 million worth of pot Thursday at an illegal marijuana farm with ties to a Mexican cartel.
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office led the narcotics-focused operation along with the DEA, FBI, and Colorado National Guard. A total of 1,000 pot plants were hauled away as a result of the raid.
Authorities named the multi-agency effort “Operation Flypaper III.” A press release from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office states that pot farm is, “the fourth illegal marijuana grow site discovered in the area in less than four years.”
The same press release alleged this latest bust, along with the three previous raids, all point to links to a Mexican cartel. This particular operation came about when hikers in the area found it odd folks were walking around with irrigation tubing, so they reported them to authorities. The DEA subsequently looked into the matter and got aerial confirmation close to Gleason Canyon of an illegal marijuana growing facility .
Thursday’s operation was the result of months of planning, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office. The owner of the land claimed to have no clue weed was growing there, and let the authorities conduct their search and seize any and all of the marijuana they found. No arrests have been made so far.
Colorado residents voted in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana use in November 2012 and the state let retailers sell marijuana products starting January 1, 2014.
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