Aberdeen Police arrested three men and confiscated more than 700 marijuana plants from a house in the 800 block of Stewart Street on Thursday, the latest in the many raids on properties owned by Chinese nationals and used in a massive illegal marijuana growing operation. The raids have occurred steadily around the county since Nov. 28.

“Three adult males were taken into custody without incident and booked into the Grays Harbor County Jail,” said detective J. Perkinson with the Aberdeen Police Department’s Investigations and Gang Unit. “More than 700 marijuana plants and the cultivation operation were seized during the warrant service.”

The multi-story home on B Street had freshly trimmed trees in the yard and from the outside gave the impression that it was just another residence. On Thursday, however, the smell of marijuana spread for blocks with an Aberdeen Public Works dump truck parked in the driveway loaded with trash bags filled with marijuana plants.

The investigation is ongoing and the Aberdeen Police Department says these homes can be hazardous and urges citizens to report any suspicious locations to their local law enforcement agency. The Aberdeen Police Department phone number is 360-533-3180.