Uprooted Pot Plants Valued At $90 Million

The 45,000 marijuana plants uprooted north of Weiser, Idaho, might have sold for up to $90 million on the street, the state Department of Law Enforcement now believes.

Their worth initially was calculated at about $20 million. That was before officers noted the high quality of the mature, healthy plants, department spokeswoman Ann Thompson said Thursday.

After a two-month investigation involving at least six agencies, authorities on Wednesday uprooted the marijuana from ravines near Mann Creek Reservoir.

Two Mexican nationals living amid the pot fields were arrested Tuesday. They are being held in the Washington County Jail on one charge each of manufacturing a controlled substance. Bail is set at $250,000 each.

Officials expect to make more arrests in connection with the pot bust, the largest in Idaho history.