Pot Grown In Colorado Homes Was Shipped To Nebraska

THORNTON, Colo. (CBS4)- Authorities in Colorado bust up grow operations where the pot was being shipped to Nebraska. The grow operations were inside homes in upscale neighborhoods across the Denver metro area in Broomfield, Dacono, Thornton and Westminster.

Authorities raided the five homes where they found marijuana plants, packaged pot and hash butane equipment.

Investigators were alerted to the growing situation by residents who noticed strange activity at the homes including traffic and smell.

In home home, 450 plants were found and in another, 200 pounds of dried pot. Some of the homes were in the $800,000 to $1 million range.

"The neighbors were very involved with reporting it. We were getting, the homeowner's association, getting mentions of stuff and we were forwarding it on," said the president of the HOA in one neighborhood.

Search warrants revealed not only grow operations but packages of marijuana that appeared ready for distribution.

North Metro Drug Task Force investigators believe the pot was headed to Nebraska.

"What these folks did was they bought numerous houses, they had warehouses, growing marijuana, packaging it to distribute back to Nebraska," said North Metro Drug Task Force Sgt. Jim Gerhardt.

RELATED STORIES: Marijuana Legalization Story Archive

Gerhardt believes the pot was being driven to Nebraska as well. Nebraska is one of two states that had sued Colorado claiming the pot from the state where it is legal, ended up in Nebraska where it is illegal.

Besides pot, hash oil producing equipment was recovered in the raids.

Philip Bailey and Timothy Koch were among the six arrested as part of the investigation.

Neighbors in one neighborhood were pleased to see the busts, "Absolutely with the police coming in and being on it and enforcing it."