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PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island State Police arrested eight people connected to what authorities allege was an illegal marijuana grow operation, following an investigation that led to the seizure of more than 1,700 cannabis plants and nearly 280 pounds of the drug.
Police said Thursday that the probe stemmed from an anonymous tip. Their investigation included multiple search warrants for residences and places where the illicit growing happened in North Providence, North Scituate, Lincoln, Westerly, Providence, and Woonsocket, officials said.
Searches were carried out on Sept. 18. In all, police said investigators seized:
- Four firearms and one large capacity feeding device
- 279.4 pounds of “usable” marijuana
- 922 mature marijuana plants
- 859 immature marijuana plants
- One pound of marijuana “shatter,” or cannabis concentrate
- 468 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
- 11.1 grams of cocaine
- 65 Oxycodone pills
- 30 amphetamine pills
- One motor vehicle
- Two motorcycles
- $79,876 cash
Seven of the suspects were arrested on Sept. 18, according to police. The eighth was arrested on Tuesday.
The charges against them range from possession of firearms to possession of narcotics, police said. Two were released after posting bail, while the rest remain in custody, officials said.
Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.
