Brandon Twp.- More than two dozen marijuana plants were discovered in a vacant township house recently.
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the foreclosed house in the 1900 block of Oakfield at about 6 p.m., Sept. 27 after a contractor employed to secure the residence by the property owner (the bank) found the plants.
OCSO Lt. Joe Quisenberry, drug unit commander for the Narcotics Enforcement Team, said 31 hydroponically grown marijuana plants were discovered. Each plant was approximately 2-feet tall, an indication that that harvest would eventually be pretty high, he said, with an estimated street value of the drugs being about $50,000.
‘Indoor-grow operations are a growing trend,? Quisenberry said.
‘They seem to be increasing over the past five years. The quality of marijuana grown hydroponically is much better than what is grown outside? the profit margins are higher.?
THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is more potent in plants grown inside, explained Quisenberry, perhaps as high as 28 percent, whereas outdoor plants have about 5 percent THC.
OCSO Sgt. Pete Burkett said this is the first time he has heard of a foreclosed home being used to grow marijuana plants.
‘I can’t believe no one saw suspicious activity,? he said.
‘These grow operations get so hot, they are picked up by heat sensors on our helicopters.?
Quisenberry and Burkett advise residents to watch for suspicious activity around foreclosed homes.
‘For a grow operation to work, there has to be increased light and irrigation, a lot of electricity and people to tend to it,? said Quisenberry, who was unsure how long the plants had been at the house, but noted they can be harvested up to four times per year.
The plants have been seized for potential prosecution and the case is open. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-888-TURN-1-IN.