Clermont County Sheriff A.J. “Tim” Rodenberg has reported that on Thursday Aug. 19 and Friday Aug. 27, the Clermont County Narcotics Unit conducted an operation to discover and eradicate marijuana plants before harvest.

“Law enforcement used a variety of resources including all-terrain vehicles and helicopters to search open areas for plants, which are approximately two-thirds through their growing season. Plants range from four to eight feet in height, and are valued conservatively at $1,000 per healthy plant,” Rodenberg said. “Deputies follow up the discovery of the plants with the objective of identifying those who cultivated the plants. The penalties for cultivating marijuana vary depending upon the number of plants involved. Once the plants are seized, they are destroyed, preventing distribution of the finished product.”