Man arrested in $1 million pot bust

[lexifer]

By JOSHUA BURD
STAFF WRITER

PISCATAWAY — A man allegedly growing up to $1 million worth of marijuana in an elaborate household operation with hundreds of plants was arrested and charged Tuesday after a raid on his Penrose Lane home, state police said.
Timothy Gordon, 42, is being charged with maintaining a marijuana production facility.
Police said the operation used sophisticated growing and ventilation technology, and occupied two bedrooms, a bathroom, the basement and an area outside the home.
A team from several law-enforcement agencies, led by the state police, recovered 543 marijuana plants from the home while executing a search warrant at 6 a.m. Tuesday, state police Sgt. Stephen Jones said.
Although the plants were at various stages of growth, a mature plant is generally valued at $2,000, authorities said, based on what the plants could eventually net the grower.
"It appears through the evidence we obtained that this has been going on for a couple of years at least at this location," Jones said.
The technology found at the house included hydroponic equipment, which supplies water and nutrients directly to plant roots without the use of soil, police said.
The single-family Cape Cod-style home also contained air-purification equipment, grow lamps and ventilation equipment meant to evade detection from authorities and neighbors.
Gordon, who is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick, told investigators he runs a construction business out of the same home, Jones said.
Authorities said they had not determined Tuesday whether there is a link between the construction business and the marijuana operation.
State Police Detective Sgt. First Class William Peacock said Gordon was growing "high-grade" marijuana in the intricate multi-room operation, in one instance using the bathroom as a drying area for freshly cut plants.
Gordon also allegedly propagated his plants by taking clippings from one plant and using them to grow others, police said.
Peacock, the N.J. State Police Marijuana Eradication Unit's lead investigator, said the bust "would be one of the larger ones in the state" and probably the largest in several months.
About a year ago, authorities arrested two Egg Harbor Township residents and seized about 500 marijuana plants — worth more than $1 million — from their home.
Police declined to discuss the investigation leading up to the raid Tuesday, only saying "some investigative resources enabled us to get this search."
The state police and their marijuana unit were assisted by Piscataway police, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. The marijuana plants were taken for analysis to a state lab in Hamilton, while the equipment in the home was taken into evidence, police said.

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...NEWS/803120327

[cosmicruler]

"a mature plant is generally valued at $2,000"

that sounds a bit OTT to swim......!

[lexifer]

It truly is ridiculous how much misinformation swim sees in a decent chunk of the articles he finds. Entirely too much overexaggerated and biased material being fed to the general public.

For instance all the reports along the lines of "Lawmen are calling salvia the new marijuana". Like what the fuck. Last time swim tried salvia it had absolutely nothing in common with marijuana aside from them both being plants. But I guess all swim can really do is speak truth to combat this. So speak the truth he shall.

Peace.

[cosmicruler]

swim agrees totally with swilexifer.....swim believes its called 'media hype'....but if they didnt blow it well out of proportion people wouldnt be reading this shite right now....

[lexifer]

Very true. Its just unfortunate how many people these types of reports convince because they don't know any better. They will only see the "evil and destructive" side of the drug culture. Just really pushes swim's buttons, suppose he is venting a bit, but what's wrong with a little venting here and there?

[Shampoo]

They also seem to have some of their numbers confused...

recovered 543 marijuana plants... up to $1 million worth

About a year ago, authorities arrested two Egg Harbor Township residents and seized about 500 marijuana plants — worth more than $1 million —

500 plants is worth "more than" $1 million, but 543 is worth "up to" $1 million?

or are they quoting fluctuations in the cannabis market over the course of the year?

[lexifer]

Swim would have to say they are exhibiting the same exaggeration and misinformation he was talking about above.