Twenty-five homes were raided across the Denver metropolitan area as part of a big marijuana sweep.
The North Metro Drug Task Force is leading the investigation into what Jace Larson of 9News described as "the large-scale grow operation." The cops are claiming all the raided homes were somehow connected.
SWAT teams began knocking down doors Wednesday morning at about 6 a.m.
At least 12 and possibly 16 people were arrested in what law enforcement officials are calling "Operation Sweet Leaf." (Since when did the narcs start naming raids after 1971 Black Sabbath songs?)
More arrests are expected. Seven children were taken to social services after the arrests were made.
The busts netted about 1,000 marijuana plants.
Investigators said the raids were on a single organization growing marijuana in Colorado and then allegedly shipping it to as many as eight other states. The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Service and Internal Revenue Service were reportedly all involved in the investigation. (video after jump)
"The investigation does not involved [sic] marijuana grown for alleged medicinal uses," 9News reports.
One of the typically ignorant drug agents involved said many of the suburban neighborhoods involved were "riddled with marijuana grow operations."
The Task Force raided 25 homes: five in Brighton; four in Denver; four in Thornton; three in Broomfield; and one each in Breckenridge, Frederick, unincorporated Adams County, Northglenn, Strasburg, Bennett, Commerce City, Westminster, and Erie.
