Authorities destroy $15 million illegal marijuana operation in central Nevada

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Nye County Sheriff's Office deputies along with the U.S. Forest Service and other organizations discovered and destroyed an illegal marijuana growing operation in Irwin Canyon, located in northern Nye County, on Sept. 14.

The location, containing 5,742 cannabis plants, was found to be unoccupied, though authorities saw signs that grow workers had recently been there.

With the average weight of at least one pound of finished product per plant, this growing operation could have yielded 6,000 pounds of marijuana.

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This is amount of finished product is worth roughly $15 million.

Police say that these outdoor grows are mostly operated by major drug cartels and have major effects on the surrounding environment and land.

At this particular grow, large amounts of dangerous chemicals and pesticides were found.

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Also, the trees had been topped, which is when the tops of the trees are removed, making it impossible for them to survive.

Anyone with information regarding possible suspects is urged to contact the Nye County Sheriff's Office at 775-751-700 or by email at sheriff@co.nye.nv.us.