Shawano County Deputies say millions of dollars worth of marijuana plants have been removed from the Navarino Wildlife Area. 8-thousand plants were taken from the site. County Sheriff Randy Wright held a news conference to talk about the seizure, one of the biggest he's ever seen. "We know it's in the millions of dollars, millions of dollars."
Sheriff Wright tells NBC26 they also found clues as to how the operation was organized. Four camp sites were found, where people would process the pot, and stand guard."We believe they would stay in that encampment, and maybe come out seldom at times." Wright said.
A tip from a hunter led the Sheriff to the site, but the growers were gone. "The criminal operation had been abandoned for some time, and that a substantial amount of marijuana had been harvested prior to law enforcement involvement."
Drug Enforcement Agent Chris Hackbarth says his agency is trying to figure out how anyone could grow this much pot and not be seen."These had to have been planted in the Spring, early Fall they were living up here, and that goes with some of the details we're trying to work out."
Agents say public lands are becoming a popular place for criminals to plant their pot. Sheriff Wright says this case Is similar to a "pot bust" last year near Gresham. That operation had ties to Mexico and resulted in one person being deported.