MCSO seizes more than 240 pounds of marijuana in Tonopah drug bust

More than 240 pounds of marijuana was seized Thursday during a drug bust in Tonopah, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. 

An MCSO drug trafficking task force served a search warrant about 11 a.m., after receiving evidence that two suspects were illegally growing and selling marijuana at a property in Tonopah, about 50 miles from downtown Phoenix, according to a press release Friday from the agency.

Eight rooms at the property were designed for growing marijuana and six of those rooms were in operation when the search warrant was served, MCSO said.

Evidence that showed cannabis was being manufactured at the property also was found, the press release adds. 

The Sheriff's Office sized approximately 244 pounds of marijuana, which consisted of 177 live plants and four pounds of dried marijuana, according to the press release. 

Approximately four pounds of cannabis, five rifles, one handgun, $20,100 in cash and a large quantity of growing and manufacturing equipment were also seized, the press release adds. 

The identities of the two suspects were not released Friday by the Sheriff's Office. Charges against them are pending, MCSO Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez said in an email on Friday.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to Enriquez. 

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels. 

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