RITZVILLE — Three men were arrested near Ritzville last week in connection with a large scale illegal marijuana operation.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office reportedly received a tip about a suspected illegal marijuana grow at a property on East Gerring Road, near Ritzville. The ACSO, with the help of other agencies, including Grant County's Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, served a search warrant at the location on Thursday.

The search warrant yielded a large scale illegal grow operation and the removal of more than 3,000 marijuana plants, which have an estimated street value of $12 million, according to the ACSO. The final tally for the weight of the marijuana came in at 14,120 pounds. Authorities also reportedly recovered guns and packaging materials for distribution and sales of drugs.

Taken into custody on charges of alien in possession of a firearm, possession/manufacture of marijuana with intent to deliver and possible other federal charges were Eleazar Mendoza-Abarca, 21, Sergio Mendoza-Abarca, 20, and Ariel Barragan-Reyes, 19. The three suspects were booked into the Adams County Jail.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.