THE COURIER / Submitted
Law enforcement officials said a total of 307 marijuana plants were discovered off of Highway 333 north of London.

Marijuana cultivation discovered


By Brooke Vermillion
Reporter
LONDON -- A recent report from a London property owner led local narcotics agents to find more than 300 marijuana plants during the weekend, some of which had grown to be about 9 feet tall.
Agents with the 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force spent more than two days chopping down the plants. Agent Chris Ridenhour said they had probably been growing for nearly four months.
"These plants were well taken care of," Ridenhour said, adding no suspects have been charged with the drug manufacturing.
Ridenhour said 233 plants were found in one area near Augsburg Road off of Highway 333 north of London, while 74 plants were found on an adjacent property. The two pieces of property are reportedly used for hunting and for a 4-H shooting range.
He explained the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) gives an estimated potential street value of $1,200 for an individual marijuana plant, which would make the agents' weekend findings worth more than $350,000 based on that theory.
Ridenhour said the plants found near London were some of the largest he had seen in the area and added marijuana plants could only grow to be about 14 feet tall.
Although the property where the drugs were found was enclosed and the gates locked, Ridenhour said the land owner was not a suspect in the case.
He recommended anyone who suspects marijuana may be growing in the area call the Drug Task Force office at (479) 968-6258.