185 marijuana plants seized
By John Joyce
Published in News on May 29, 2013 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Wayne County sheriff officers Jason Sasser and Jason Hill listen to a portable radio while waiting to removing a container of pot plants that were cut and removed from a wooded area off N.C. 111 South on Tuesday afternoon. The plants were spotted by the Wayne County Sheriff Airwatch team.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office located and seized 185 marijuana plants from a wooded area off N.C. 111 South near Ditchbank Road Tuesday.
The crop was spotted from the air during an eradication mission conducted by the WCSO Airwatch Team.
Capt. Richard Lewis said the plants ranged from two to six feet in height and were not fully mature.
The potential street value of the unharvested yield was estimated at $462,500.
Deputies flying the Sheriff's Office's helicopter spotted the pot plants in a thicket of other brush and called it in.
K-9 officer Jason Sasser and other deputies responded and assisted in the removal. The plants were carted off in trash bins.
Lewis could not comment as to whether the marijuana growers have been identified or what type of follow-up investigation would take place.
No charges have been filed.