Homegrown pot bust shocks neighbors

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - A year-long investigation has yielded more than $6 million-worth of marijuana growing in central Texas homes. Police now say they are tracking more pot-growing operations in the area.

On Wednesday morning, a multi-agency taskforce seized more than 1,400 high-grade marijuana plants and more than 200 pounds of loose marijuana. The raids happened at one Williamson County home and five Travis County homes.

"It was just about 20 undercover vehicles just up and down the street, a couple of state troopers," Melissa Wilson said.

Agents donning breathing masks descended on the Granton Cove rental home a few down from Wilson’s own house.

"I was just asking them what was going on," Wilson said, "and they would say that they were delivering a warrant. Well, there was too much going on for just delivering a warrant."

Blinds open, indoor heat lamps cast an orange glow on the agents working inside. A bedroom converted to a grow room, for this home's part in the more than six-million dollar raid.

Watch the Texas Department of Public Safety video from inside the home below:

"The indoor grown marijuana is significantly different than outdoor grown marijuana that you might see from Mexico," said David Franklin, supervisor of the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal Investigation Division in Austin.

Fertilizer, special seeding, and an investigation more than a year long.

"That's a little irritating," said Sam Castleberry, another neighbor. "I hope they really get them good."

So far, police have arrested two people on federal drug trafficking charges. The investigation is ongoing, as police work to protect these neighborhoods from further trouble.

"That just opens up that neighborhood to different dangers - drive-by shootings, homicides." said Sgt. John Foster with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office.

"We pay a lot to live here," said Wilson, "and I don't want that stuff in our neighborhood. We have a lot of kids here."

Police said indoor grown marijuana is becoming very popular nationwide right now. Its quality is much higher, worth up to ten times more than pot grown outside.