By Patricia Beech –
An ongoing investigation by local authorities has culminated in the discovery of two multi-million dollar marijuana grow operations.
The state-of-the-art marijuana grow sites were shut down late Thursday night, July 21 by the Adams County Sheriff’s office. Deputies seized 1,400 marijuana plants in what was described as a large commercial operation like those found in Colorado or California.
“I’ve seen bigger grows with more plants in fields,” said Sheriff Kimmy Rogers, but this operation is the most professional I’ve ever seen.”
The plants were found at two different sites owned by Steve Eury, 41, and his wife Justice, 33. The Eury’s were arrested Friday morning and charged with the illegal manufacture of drugs. They are being held in the Adams County Detention Center on $150,000 bond each.
The People’s Defender was the first to break the news online as investigators finished dismantling the operations located on Mayhill Road near Peebles and on State Route 348 in southern Adams County.
Deputies removed dozens of commercial grow lights as well as air-filtering and air conditioning systems from the underground facility on Mayhill Road.
“We’ve hauled truckload after truckload of stuff out of here,” said Rogers.
The grow operation was located beneath an immense two-story, six-bay block garage and could only be accessed through a vaulted door which Eury refused to open for authorities.
Deputies entered the building by blasting through a wall using a Bobcat with a jackhammer attachment. The plants inside were described as high-quality with resin-covered buds,
“I’ve never seen plants like those,” said Deputy Mark Brewer, “The smell was overwhelming.”
Agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) estimated the site would have generated $4 million a year.
The smaller, second underground grow site, located near 348 PreCast near Wamsley was also sealed behind a vault-like door and was accessible only by elevator.
“Both of these grows were very sophisticated operations,” said Rogers.
The investigation into the extent of Eury’s operation is ongoing.