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DTF busts major pot grower
Man grew 4.5-foot plants in shed
Published Thursday, November 5, 2009
Photo by Michele Gerlach
Some of Zachanni’s pot.
There was nothing sophisticated about the exterior appearance of a shed on Willie Frank Road in which members of the Covington County Drug Task Force found what they called the “most sophisticated indoor grow” they’ve ever seen.
DTF agents charged Hugo Anthony Zachanni with trafficking in marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after serving a search warrant at the residence Thursday afternoon. Zachanni, a 42-year-old white male, is being held in the Covington County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
DTF Commander Mark Odom said tips received by the River Falls Police Department led to an investigation into Zachanni’s activities. Agents obtained a search warrant Thursday afternoon and quickly had the man in custody.
Agents found the growing station inside a closet in a shed. The grower was using air conditioning, lights and a tank of carbon dioxide in the growing process, they said. Numerous plants estimated at four-and-a-half feet tall were growing in plastic flowerpots in the climate-controlled area.
“This was definitely a sophisticated grower,” Odom said.
Agents also found how-to books for growers in the shed.
Odom said the Drug Enforcement Agency generally estimates the value of marijuana at $2,000 per plant. However, he said, the content of these plants probably made them more valuable.
DTF prosecutor Grant Scott said agents were able to move from the River Falls tip to a search warrant and then to the grow house in a matter of a few hours.
“We’d like to thank Chief (Greg) Jackson and the River Falls Police Department for their assistance,” Scott said.
The Covington County Sheriff’s Department also assisted in the execution of the search warrant.
Comments
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 5:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The content of the plants made them more valuble???? What the heck was in them? If something was in them, how did they know there was and how did they come to that decision?? That comment really makes no sense to me.
Posted by rgodwin (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SouthernAttitude1 : maybe that comment was made after he had sampled some of the plant. That's sounds funny to even me, but maybe it would help explain the comment.
Posted by ToldYouSo (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Boys and Girls;
The agent was misquoted. Re-read the story and find that "Attitude" left out the word "propably" from his statement. Quite a difference.
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, ToldYouSo, I did leave that out, not intentional. Questions remain the same. HOW did they come to that PROBABLE conclusion?
I don't question the good they did by getting this guy. Just seems to me the value from the height and pictures is a bit excessive. So it makes me think they are trying to pump up the value.
Anybody care to explain what the content MAY be? Just sounds a little off to me.
Posted by MsGRITS (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can't tell me that MOST of those guys in the police force have never smoked pot. AS far as I can remember from my "college days" there is a higher content of THC in different "kind"s. AS far as my reccollection, ya know pot smokers have bad memories, one time I smoked some pot "in college" and all I got was a headache. IF YOU PEOPLE AROUND THIS LITTLE BITTY TOWN THINK FOR ONE SECOND YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH DISTRIBUTION of/or MANUFACTING YOU HAVE BUMPED your heads. YOu tell two people and the whole pot smoking population knows whats going on. The first one busted will ROLL. Take that to the bank... Stupidity for a 42 year old man.... I guess the state (my tax dollars) will make him grow up.
Posted by pre_girl (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go DTF!!!
Posted by workingman (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well the county needs to raise tax money, why not make pot legal and tax it? They were 4.5ft tall and being grown in pots, they did not subtract the 9in for the pot that the pot was being grown in.
About 49/65% of the people in jail are in for pot.
Pot is the first cash crop of Alabama next to cottin then corn and the like.
Pot helps keep this country going, if it were legal we would not need as many police, new jails, new prisons.
I have nothing to do with pot, would not smoke if given the chance but, with the medical use of it, someone needs to grow it.
Alabama came real close to passing the legalization of the same some years back, the only hold up was they could not agree on what color to die it, in order to keed down the black market.
Alabama needs it stop trying to a a state run byt the US. SS, and do what needs to be done to help the people, not do all they can do to put us all in prision for life for trying to enjoy life. Enough said.
Posted by hiflyin (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone ever thought about what happens to the pot that is taken away from the growers?
I remember many years ago that a sheriff in cov. co. pulled up 2 truck loads and a trailor load then called a news reporter a few days later and had them take a photo of them burning it, however by that time the pot 2 truck loads and the trailor load srunk to less than a pickup bed full and all the leaves and buds had somhow just fell off so all that was left was just a hand full of twigs.....isn't that strang how that happen ?
Posted by bamafootball (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whewww "workingman" I'm afraid you are opening up a big can-o-worms on your comments. Which, it wouldn't matter to me either way. Haaa,it would be strange if it ever was legalized and ppl was walking around the square high as heck. That'd be funny!
ROLL TIDE!
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
According to authorities also confiscated were several leisure suits and platform shoes, a mood ring,beanbag chair,2 lava lamps and a blacklight and assorted posters.
Rumors abound that later in the day law enforcement officers were spotted renting all the Cheech and Chong movies and proceeded to a local fast food drive thru and ordered 300 tacos.
Repeated attempts to contact Willie Nelson for his comments on this story have been unsuccessful.
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the content they are talking about is THC then the level of THC would have to be determined by a lab. Correct? The only other way I can think of is for someone to smoke it and see if it is better than what they have had before. I don't think you could look at a plant and tell what the potency is.
I normally take what the officers say at face value. This one caught my attention.
The particular officer's comments on contents smells funny.
biscuitsandhoovergravy, Willie can't remember what he wanted to say.
Posted by william99 (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason cultivated MJ plants have a higher content of THC(the potent ingredient) is because under controlled conditions such as were found in this raid, the plants receive the precise nutrition needed, sometimes more, to make them grow healthier and stronger. They do not have the competition of weeds, etc. and their growth is not governed by the variables of outdoor weather, rainfall, soil fertility, etc. These commercial growers have this down to a science and are constantly coming up with ways to increase the potency of the plants they are growing. This is why the agents could make the statement that, based on education and training, such plants as the ones in the raid, are definitely higher in potency and therefor higher in value.
Give the DTF agents some credit, they are a great bunch of law enforcement officers!
Posted by workingman (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thanks bamafootball but you must be asleep at half time, they are all ready at the aquare. Please do not miss understand, as I have said I have nothing for it but, when 3 out of every 10 people smoke it (according to the Federal Gov.) then why not make it legal and get the tax. I have several houndred acres I would plant if it were.
Ask most of the Judges now and they say the same thing,
(according to the Federal Govt and CNN).
This way it will stop the mexican drug lords and the CIA from bring it here. It is a known FACT that the CIA and DEA are very heavy into drug import, why? because, again it supports 70% of our syestem, (according to several ex-agents and Federal Judges.
Lets look at facts and not the good ol boy that has a job with the DTF, they are doing a great job at what they do.
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
william99, thanks for the explanation. That is what I was asking.
I do give DTF, our sheriff and deputies praise. From what I know most are a great bunch of folks. I think they are doing the best job they can with the paltry resourses the are given.
Posted by knos (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If any of this is every legalized and taxed our neighbors to the south would descend into chaos quicker than a cat jumps out of water...
Just what the United States needs. A failed state on it's southern boarder.
Silly law breakers thinking they can keep breaking laws for an extending period of time. Gotta make better risk/reward decisions. Could have gone to college for a degree and been making just as much money and more than likely wouldn't be going to jail for it. Awesome decision dude.
Posted by superman (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The police and DTF use to raid a meth lab or bust marjuana growers/dealers at least once a week. You don't really hear about it to much anymore. I know its gotta still be going on.
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
superman there is no doubt about it the DTF has made a dent in the cooking of meth.I know when I go to the drug store to buy ClaritinD for sinus problems, I have to sign for it,which if you have nothing to hide it should'nt be a big deal.I know there will always be meth around but I think its obvious its not as bad as it once was.
Posted by jamthree (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what sense does it make for it to be legal for med. use and to grow your own for personal use in one state and in AL (especially covington county) a user or grower gets treated like he just robbed a bank,beat his wife and shot the preacher?Absolute ignorance if you ask me.Most of the people doing time for pot are good decent hard working people.Face it legalization or decriminalization is coming.
Posted by hiflyin (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The DTF people would have a field day in Osage county Oklahoma pot grows wild there all indian resavation and they call it HEMP there. I lived in Tulsa, and Broken Arrow Ok. and fished in osage co. next door.....i loved going fishing there.
Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 2:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mexico would become a failed state? knos have you been to Mexico? The real Mexico, not the resorts? It is already chaos. Do a little research about the gang and drug wars spilling into American cities on the border.
Posted by ToldYouSo (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
william 99; thanks for the explanation and thanks to the Officers dedicated to eradicating this "harmless" (???) substance which is rapidly destroying the "greatest culture which ever existed". Just look at what our children do that was unspeakable a few short years ago!
Posted by knos (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's the research. DTF/DEA went down there and busted up the major drug cartels. Now there's a power vacuum. Natural state of things for there to be a struggle to fill the void. There are a bunch of gangs angling for power now. That's why there's so much violence. In a few years things will be back to the norm before the United States started meddling.
If things had been left the way they were things would be a lot better in Mexico.
Posted by bubba (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A closet inside a shed, an air conditioner, some lights, and a tank of carbon dioxide. Oh yes, that is some sophisticated stuff, for sure.
And no, the dtf isn't out there " a'bustin up meth labs" like before because the front line officers are tired of giving it to them.
Posted by lulubell (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All it takes is to make a phone call to the DTF and they do start an investigation. It might not look like they are still busting up meth labs but it does take time for them to gather the correct information that they need. They just can not go in on someone's word and bust up in someone's home and say they got a report. They could be held liable for any damage, etc. They have to have time to build a report and watch that so called places reported to them. Any how they want to get the big guys so to speak and all the little ones that fall right on there with them. With the marijuana having THC in it that does present a big problem because it does cause memory loss it damages your brain cells. People need to grow up and read up on what this and all illegal drugs are doing to our/your children. Because they are our future leaders of AMERICA. Do we want them running our country. I would think not!
Posted by MsGRITS (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was gonna say something but I don't remember!
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on November 10, 2009 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey MsGrits. Did I see you and Mrs. Grundy having lunch together last week? ;)
Posted by rabbit2300 (anonymous) on November 11, 2009 at 3:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So is it the DTF busting the drug dealers. I heard that the Police and deputies out answering calls and making traffic stops and stumble across something they believe is a drug. They must stop everything call the GREAT DTF and ask if they think it is drugs. The dtf might get up and come see or tell the officer to take the people to jail collect the evidence turn in a statement and let the HARD working DTF get the warrant. Also the DTF will issue a press release taking credit for all the hard work that they just did finding drugs and stuff. If i was the police i would want to be the dtf so i could take credit for everyones work. But if i happen to be out and some how come in contact with a criminal i would have to call the patrol officers to help me figure out how to do the paperwork
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