OH -Pike County Marijuana Grow Possibly Connected To Mexican Drug Cartel

Pike County Marijuana Grow Possibly Connected To Mexican Drug Cartel




By:
Brianne Betts
NBC4i.com
Published: August 16, 2012

PIKE COUNTY, Ohio --

A major marijuana grow site in Pike County could be tied to a Mexican drug cartel, according to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

Agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Pike County Sheriff's Office were ending the first day of a two-day drug eradication effort Wednesday, when investigators in a helicopter noticed the grow on a hillside.

Authorities raided the location off Hickson Run Road Thursday morning.

"BCI staff are highly trained and skilled in identifying marijuana plants and found more than 1,200 plants in the beginning stages of growth," said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

Investigators said they also found evidence of two campsites that they believe likely belonged to Mexican nationals.
Both camps were abandoned.

Officers from 13 area law enforcement agencies worked Thursday to remove the plants and burn them.

Had the plants been allowed to mature and be sold on the streets, authorities estimate each plant could have been sold for $1,000 to $1,500 apiece.

"We're doing everything we can in Pike County to fight the war on drugs the best we can," said Pike County Sheriff Richard Henderson. "There is no way we can do this by ourselves, so we are very grateful to everyone who came together today to help us get these drugs out of our community."

No arrests have been made, although investigators said evidence left at the scene could help them identify the people responsible.
Pike County Marijuana Grow Possibly Connected To Mexican Drug Cartel | NBC 4i

Put this with the busts in TX and CO, do we need to question about how many Americans and who are addicted. We have a great deal of work to do. Cartels do not have to worry about getting it across the border, they are raising it near the demand? Cuts the losses.