News from DEA, Domestic Field Divisions, Detroit News Releases, 02/25/04

News Release
February 25, 2004

LARGE INDOOR MARIJUANA GROWING OPERATION
SPROUTS UP IN YOUNGSTOWN

3,850 plants in all stages of growth were seized at this indoor grow operation

FEB 25--On February 25 2004, Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force of the Youngstown Resident Office executed a Federal Search Warrant at a warehouse located at 814 Marshall Street Youngstown, Ohio. During the search, an elaborate indoor marijuana grow operation was found in a concealed area of the warehouse which contained seven separate grow rooms with 3,850 marijuana plants in different growth stages and processed marijuana. This marijuana grow operation used a sophisticated irrigation and fertilizing system and a complex lighting and heating system to grow the marijuana. Additionally, large quantities of potting soil, fertilizer and other growing supplies were found at the warehouse. This search warrant was the culmination of an investigation, which started in December 2003, by the DEA Youngstown Resident Office Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

An additional search warrant was executed at a residence in Brookfield, Ohio that resulted in the seizure of a second marijuana grow operation that contained 116 marijuana plants and similar growing equipment that was found at the 814 Marshall Street location. This investigation is continuing and arrests are anticipated in the near future.

The investigation was conducted by DEA Youngstown Task Force Officers from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Salem Police Department, Poland Village Police Department, Boardman Police Department, Youngstown Police Department, Canfield Police Department, Beaver Township Police Department and Warren Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The investigation is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

Special Agent in Charge John P. Gilbride of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit, Michigan, stated that this is one of the largest and highly sophisticated marijuana grow operations that has been seized in Ohio in recent years and will have a significant impact on the availability of marijuana in the Youngstown, Ohio area. SAC Gilbride contributed the success of this investigation to the outstanding cooperation with the various state, local and federal law enforcement agencies that participated in this investigation.

This photo demonstrates the elaborate lighting and exhaust systems that were installed at the large indoor grow operation in
Youngstown, OH