$2 Million in Marijuana Plants Found, Burned in Pottawatomie County

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Nearly 2,200 marijuana plants worth about $2 million are now in tribal police custody in Pottawatomie County.

"It was a total of 2,167 plants, which is about $2 million street value," said Kickapoo Tribal Police Sgt. Todd Beesley.

The Kickapoo Tribal police force said they discovered the plants in an area near McLoud. They said the crop was so large that it stretched across Lincoln and Pottowatomie counties and some plants reached as high as 18 feet.

A good portion of the crop was in a wooded area on a farmer's private property just off Highway 102 north of McLoud, and apparently that farmer knew nothing of it.

"He was surprised and said, 'Yes, I want it out of there,'" Beesley said.

The plants were discovered two months ago and were chopped down and burned Tuesday.

"It's nice to know that we were able to get that before it got out on the street," Beesley said.

Throughout the investigation, police were never able to pinpoint exactly who is responsible for the cash crop, but investigators said whoever is responsible is probably peeved about his loss of profit.

"Two million dollars, that's a lot of money. If someone took $2 million out of my pocket, I'd be upset," Beesley said.

Police said they were tipped off to the weed and located the crop by using a helicopter from another agency.

The Pottawatomie County District Attorney's Drug and Violent Crime Task Force assisted with the investigation.