6 charged in major Twin Cities drug bust

Illegal? Maybe not.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says it may have broken up the largest marijuana plant growing operation in the state's history.
Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Six people have been charged in an apparent multi-city drug operation in the Twin Cities area.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says it may be the largest indoor marijuana growing operation in state history.

Federal authorities say they seized nearly 5,000 marijuana plants after searching eight homes in Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville and Maplewood. More than 2,300 of the plants were found in two Maplewood residences alone.

The Drug Enforcement Administration says authorities began investigating in January, after police learned that one of the suspects was allegedly growing marijuana in a Burnsville residence.

Officials announced the charges Friday after the defendants appeared in federal court. All six were charged with conspiracy to manufacture 1,000 or more marijuana plants.

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