Police in Crimea have seized $3.5 million worth of raw cannabis products after unearthing three large marijuana plantations on the Black Sea peninsula, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.
The first plantation, which covered 2,000 square meters, was discovered on an artificial island in the Syvash gulf, which separates Crimea from mainland Ukraine, an Interior Ministry spokeswoman told Interfax.
The owners of the plantation, which was protected by a guard, chose the secluded spot among the bulrushes to avoid detection from prying eyes, she said in the report, adding that police had destroyed 500 plants at the site.
Another two plantations spanning 1,100 square meters were discovered two days later, she was quoted as saying by Interfax.
The estimated black-market value of cannabis products seized during the raids amounts to $3.5 million, the spokeswoman said. Authorities have yet to locate those responsible for cultivating and distributing the marijuana.
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