An ongoing investigation into an unrelated crime coincidentally
led sheriff’s deputies to a marijuana growing operation and about
$8.2 million worth of illegal plants in Morgan Hill, authorities
said.
An ongoing investigation into an unrelated crime coincidentally led sheriff’s deputies to a marijuana growing operation and about $8.2 million worth of illegal plants in Morgan Hill, authorities said.
Deputies from the Santa Clara County Special Operations and investigations units attempted to contact a resident of Kalana Avenue who was thought to have been involved in a previous crime, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Sung.
A neighbor, an Asian male in his 50s, who was not a target of an investigation or warrant at the time, snuck out of his home and ran away, Sung said. The man’s flight raised a “red flag” to the deputies, who began to investigate that home.
Authorities determined that the residence in northwest Morgan Hill was being used to grow marijuana and obtained a warrant to search the property, Sung said. Found and seized from a greenhouse on the property, as well as the residence, were about 2,800 marijuana plants in differing stages of maturity, plus about 80 pounds of dried pot that was ready to be sold.
“Also, inside the residence there were multiple sections that were equipped with lighting equipment, as well as a water irrigation system,” Sung said.
The home also contained a walk-in refrigeration system that the suspect apparently used to dry cultivated marijuana, police said.
The marijuana was confiscated and destroyed, Sung said.
The street value of the seized material was about $8.2 million, which Sung described as being in the “upper range” for a bust in a residential area in Morgan Hill.
Authorities have not arrested the man who ran from the home, and are still investigating the incident, Sung said.
