Nearly $1 Million of Weed Found After Suspected Pot Farm Fire
Nearly $1 million worth of weed was found after a suspected pot farm went up in smoke. One person has been arrested.
On June 6, members of the Town of Marlborough police and fire departments responded to a structure fire at 212 Bingham Lane in Marlboro.
First responders quickly determined that the entire home had been converted to an indoor marijuana growing and processing operation, police say.
Investigators also alleged that a neighboring residence on the property was also housing an indoor marijuana operation.
Through an investigation, police executed search warrants at that location at 6 different locations in Marlboro and the Town of Newburgh.
The homes were all large, single family, new construction homes. Three were converted to facilitate marijuana operation on all floors, police say.
Police claim they seized over 300 pounds of marijuana, grow lights, blowers, filters, ballasts and fertilizer, drug packaging material, scales, counter surveillance equipment, instructions and ledgers as well as trace evidence.
The street value of the seized marijuana is estimated at $800,000, according to authorities.
The power to the homes was allegedly illegally spliced into the main power supply to avoid the detection of high usage. Central Hudson crews and investigators responded to disconnect the power.
Joseph I. Arredondo-Alarcon, 34, of Marlboro was arrested by investigators during a traffic stop on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. He was charged with criminal possession of marijuana and is being held in the Ulster County Jail.
It's believed the cause of the fire was an electric motor in one of the complex ventilation systems constructed as part of the grow operation, police say.
Police say more arrests regarding this investigation are likely.
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