Derrek Vaughn | The Valdosta Daily TimesMarijuana plants at various stages of growth were found in the house being used.

VALDOSTA — One man was arrested Monday after the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office broke up a massive marijuana grow operation at a house on Knights Academy Road.

LCSO officials said Sergio Gonzales is charged with manufacturing marijuana. 

Sheriff Ashley Paulk said more charges against the suspect are pending.

Paulk said deputies found 280 marijuana plants and 12 pounds of processed marijuana ready for sale at the home located on the 4300 block of Knights Academy Road. 

The total estimated value of the drugs recovered is $500,000, according to a LCSO report.

Investigators with the sheriff’s special operations unit received a tip from the Valdosta Police narcotics unit about the grow house. Following the tip, investigators watched the home for several days and used electronic surveillance tools to detect heat.

The surveillance established probable cause. Deputies received a search warrant of the residence.

Authorities said the suspect’s family, which included a young child, was detained after the bust.

The marijuana is being held as evidence and will eventually be destroyed, Paulk said.

“It’s a pretty good-sized grow operation,” Paulk said. “I’ve got 20 years of (experience). I’ve seen three, including this one, about this size. It’s not a real common occurrence to find them in our area. A half-a-million dollars worth of product on hand is a pretty good bit of product. You’re cutting the source off. It’s a lot better than getting the street dealer that has three pounds in his car.”

 

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256