Officials arrested a Mesa man suspected of running one of the largest marijuana growing operations in years, Thursday afternoon.
Authorities at the Arizona Department of Public Safety said the bitter smell of marijuana was overwhelming inside the west Mesa home, near Gilbert road and Main Street, where officials seized dozens of plants and a box of ready for sale marijuana with an estimated street value of $2000 to $3000 dollars.
“David White, 31, was arrested Thursday about 5 p.m. on suspicion of possession, use, sale and production of marijuana,” said Bart Graves, DPS media spokesperson.
According to Graves, White was arrested during the course of an ongoing investigation of west Mesa gangs by the DPS State Gang Task Force. Graves said the unit was monitoring drug activity as part of its investigation into criminal gang activity in Mesa when White’s residence became a point of interest.
“We were following the money and all signs pointed to this house from the gang activity,” said Graves.
Authorities said the hydroponic marijuana lab was the largest growing operation they had ever encountered. The two-story home had several rooms with carefully controlled temperature, lighting, and fans. The rooms had dozens of plants in several stages of growth and according to Graves; investigators believe the lab has been operating for several years.
DPS officials did not arrest any other people in connection with the warrant search and seizure, and investigators believe white was operating alone.
The Mesa police couldn;t find any bangers at Gilbert & Main? Did they really look for gang members?
Did you read the story? It said that the house became a place of interest because of the gang investigation. So, they were in the middle of an investigation of gang activity in mesa & thats what brought this house to their attention. GET IT?????
WESTSIDE!!
Gilbert and Main is not really West Side of Mesa, that is not even close to Little Mexico which is right smack in the middle of West Mesa.