Pot plants seized in Warren > 2 people arrested

WARREN — Agents of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency raided a home off Tolman Road and seized 88 marijuana plants from an “indoor grow operation” in a converted railroad boxcar in the back yard. Also seized from the property were 2 pounds of processed marijuana and about $1,000 in cash.

Arrested without incident were the two occupants of the home, Jay Jones, 38, and Bernice Giesman, 44. Both were charged with trafficking in marijuana. They were taken to Knox County Jail in Rockland and released later in the day on $2,000 unsecured bail each.

A third person, Ann Gamage, 43, of Rockland was summoned to court on a charge of furnishing marijuana. The trio are scheduled to appear in Rockland District Court on Nov. 18.

The mobile home was raided at midmorning Friday by four DEA agents, four Knox County sheriff’s deputies and two state troopers. The growing operation, consisting of lighting, irrigation and fertilizing equipment, was discovered in a converted Bangor & Aroostook Railroad boxcar in the back yard. Authorities said the 88 plants were in various stages of growth, from seedlings to plants 5 feet tall. Estimated street value of the illegal crop was $77,000.