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(KSL News) Earlier this week 18,000 marijuana plants with a street value in the millions were discovered and destroyed in Sevier County.
Efrain Ramirez Lepe, 19, Angel Chavez-Alverez, 36, Luis Mendoza-Muta, 42, Valentine Ortiz Mendoza, 21, and a 17-year-old juvenile were arrested in connection with the marijuana grow. The four adults are being held in the Sevier County Jail. The juvenile is at the detention center in Richfield. All are believed to be Mexican nationals.
Along with the plants, investigators found growing equipment, water lines and camping gear in Salina Creek on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
The plants have an approximate street value of $8 million to $10 million.
This bust culminates a three-month investigation and could possibly be related to other grows in Southern Utah.
The bust was led by the Central Utah Narcotics Task Force and involved the DEA, several neighboring sheriff's offices and police agencies.
