Alaska State Troopers stumbled upon marijuana grow house during an investigation of a separate incident in Kasilof last month.
While troopers attempted to locate a wanted person at a residence, they detected the odor of marijuana coming from a nearby residence at about 10:15 a.m. May 29 in Kasilof, according to a trooper dispatch from June 6.
Members of the South Central Areawide Narcotics Team served a search warrant at the residence later in the day and discovered 91 marijuana plants that totaled approximately 19 pounds, along with associated growing equipment, according to the report.
A suspect was identified and charges of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fourth-degree were forwarded to the Kenai District Attorney’s Office for disposition.
Trooper spokesperson Megan Peters said names or addresses are not released without an arrest. Peters said the grow operation was not the target of the investigation.
The usable weight of the marijuana was determined to be 3.18 pounds. Peters said the street value is estimated at about $12,000, or $4,000 a pound.
Troopers will hold the marijuana until they receive a judge’s order to destroy the contraband, she said.
Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.
