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Police seize pot plants
7,513 found in Jackson County
An effort to eradicate illegal marijuana-growing operations in southern Indiana led to the discovery of 7,513 plants Tuesday in Jackson County.
The discovery on the Hoosier National Forest was the largest found during a joint effort dubbed Operation Thunder by the Indiana State Police.
No arrests have been made in connection with the marijuana plants found in Jackson County, but investigators are following up leads, Sgt. Chad Dick said. He is public information officer for the ISP’s Jasper District.
Statewide during the operation there were about 19,000 plants eradicated with an estimated street value of $47.5 million, police said, and 316 illegal marijuana plots were discovered.
Twenty suspects have charges pending as a result, Dick said.
On Aug. 23, state police along with the Indiana National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, DEA, U.S. Forest Service, Civil Air Patrol, Indiana DNR and local law enforcement agencies spread across southern Indiana, with a focus on illegal marijuana growing operations.
This effort was in response to ongoing intelligence that marijuana was being grown on public property such as the Hoosier National Forest.
Because of the rugged and dense terrain, OH-58 and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the Indiana National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, along with other aircraft from the Indiana State Police and the Civil Air Patrol, were used.
Several ground teams also navigated the area and eradicated the marijuana, police said.
Even though efforts were concentrated in the southern part of the state, marijuana eradication has been ongoing statewide, police said.
This operation was funded through a Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program grant. It comes from the U.S. Department of Justice and the DEA and is used to combat illegal marijuana operations.
Tips
The public may report tips to the Indiana State Police Marijuana Eradication Section Tip line at (888) 873-1694.
