More than 1,400 marÂiÂjuaÂna plants were seized in a home west of the Twin Cities, and two men were arÂrestÂed in what a sherÂiff said was the most soÂphisÂtiÂcatÂed opÂerÂaÂtion of its kind he has seen in his quarÂter-cenÂtuÂry in law enÂforceÂment.
The bust ocÂcurÂred aÂbout 11:30 a.m. ThursÂday at a home in the 500 block of MarÂcia Street in Dassel, acÂcordÂing to the MeekÂer County SherÂiff's Office.
"An elÂaboÂrate marÂiÂjuaÂna grow opÂerÂaÂtion was disÂcovÂered with marÂiÂjuaÂna plants in variÂous stages of growth," a stateÂment from the SherÂiff's Office read.
The stateÂment also said 1,433 marÂiÂjuaÂna plants were seized from the resÂiÂdence along with nuÂmerÂous items used for culÂtiÂvaÂtion.
A 37-year-old man was arÂrestÂed at the scene, and authÂoriÂties deÂterÂmined that he was wantÂed in anÂothÂer state for a crime the SherÂiff's Office did not disÂclose. The man has yet to be charged in this crime.
Also arÂrestÂed at the home and charged on FriÂday with two felÂoÂny drug counts was Trong B. Ly, 45, of BrookÂlyn Park.
SherÂiff Brian Cruze said that in his 24-year law enÂforceÂment caÂreer, inÂcludÂing 15 years workÂing in narÂcotÂics, he has "nevÂer seen such a soÂphisÂtiÂcatÂed opÂerÂaÂtion with this many marÂiÂjuaÂna plants."
The U.S. Marshal's Office, the fedÂerÂal Drug Enforcement Administration and the state Bureau of CrimÂiÂnal Apprehension also were inÂvolved in the seiÂzure.
Paul Walsh