On 4/20, authorities raid marijuana growers
By TONY RIZZO
The Kansas City Star
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Police agencies on both sides of the state line carried out a series of raids on indoor marijuana growing operations Wednesday that resulted in at least 14 arrests and the seizure of more than 900 plants, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.
It was no coincidence that the operation dubbed Constant Gardener occurred on April 20, which has became a holiday for marijuana users around the world.
We wanted to celebrate with them today, said Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe.
Wednesdays operation was part of an ongoing investigation that involves law enforcement agencies covering territory from Wichita to Columbia, Lowe said.
Since 2007, more than 130 indoor growing operations have been disrupted and more than 10,000 marijuana plants have been seized.
Residences, barns, warehouses and even a motel room have been used to grow the plants, the patrol said. In some cases, entire houses were being used to grow marijuana without anyone actually residing there.
On Wednesday, officers from about 30 police agencies in eastern Kansas and western Missouri raided 20 growing operations as of early afternoon and were continuing the operation throughout the day and in the days to come, officials said.
Lowe said that drug-impaired drivers have been involved in numerous crashes and highway fatalities and that the patrol and its law enforcement partners wanted to send a message to those who promote illegal drug use.
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