Marijuana Growing Operation Busted In Central Wisconsin

Operation One Of Largest On Record For The Area

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Marathon County Sheriff’s police have shut down what they say is one of the biggest marijuana growing operations on record in central Wisconsin.

The bust took place with the help of a drug-sniffing dog, according to Marathon County Chief Deputy Chad Billeb.

“Our patrol division had received a complaint from a local delivery service where they had received a suspicious package,” said Billeb. “We sent a K-9 to that location and the dog alerted on the package. They discovered about a quarter pound of marijuana.”

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Billeb says they traced the package to a Wausau address, and then followed up with a search warrant at a home in rural Athens.

“That search resulted in the seizure of about 750 or so plants in what turned out to be a very intricate grow operation,” said Billeb.

The operation included lights, a watering system and plants in different stages of development. “The marijuana was growing in different stages, so there were some plants that were more mature than others,” said Billeb. “If those plants were allowed to grow and continue as they were, the net on that would be somewhere in the ballpark of about $2 million.”

Billeb says it’s one of the biggest marijuana busts ever in central Wisconsin. One suspect has been arrested.