DETROIT – Three men were charged Friday in connection with a massive marijuana-growing operation discovered on Detroit's east side on Wednesday.
54-year-old Jimmy Berry of Waterford, 49-yearold Robert Blurton of Dearborn and Garcia Figueroa of Detroit face several criminal charges.
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On Wednesday, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, police and Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon were at the building near Mack Avenue and Chene Street, where they said the drug was being grown on three levels of the building in an elaborate set up.
"What I saw in there, this is not elementary. That's for sure. This is really sophisticated and there are no people, in my opinion, in this neighborhood that's running an operation like that," Bing said. "Because you've got electricians, you've got people with MBAs more than likely, putting this process and growing effort together."
Police said lights, fertilizers and fans were connected all throughout the building. They said a tip call led them to the discovery.
Napoleon said five people were arrested and that the operation is thought to have originated somewhere outside Detroit?s borders but brought into the city.
"We understand that there are no real borders now. That's why it's very important, as the mayor would say, that we have law enforcement work cooperatively," said Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. "Because criminals do not recognize borders. We try to think that they are significant, but they're not. So, it's important that we continue to work collaboratively."
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