$15M in marijuana plants confiscated in White County

CLEVELAND - A combined effort by several agencies has resulted in the confiscation of  $15 million dollars in marijuana that was being grown in northern White County. 

The White County Sheriff's Office said Monday that over a month ago a marijuana field was spotted by the Governor's Task Force Aerial Unit as part of its annual marijuana eradication efforts.  

Brad Parks, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Appalachian Drug Task Force, said they wanted to watch the operation in hopes of catching those growing the plants, so they kept a eye on the area for a month.  The plants, which have now been cut down and confiscated, were in a remote area of U.S. Forest Service land off the Richard Russell Scenic Highway.  Parks said the area was ideal for this type of operation with a nearby water source.

No arrests have been made at this time, but Parks says he hopes someone will come forward with information that will assist in finding out who was involved.

The month long operation was the cooperative work of the Appalachian Drug Task Force, Georgia National Guard, federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, North Georgia K-9 Task Force, state Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service and the White County Sheriff's Office.

Anyone with any information on this case is encouraged to call the Appalachian Drug Task Force hot line at 1-800-497-6121.