SURVEYORS STUMBLE INTO MARIJUANA CROP

ZELLWOOD -- Surveyors in west Orange County made a startling discovery as
they trekked across a huge piece of land Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

About 600 marijuana plants, some nearly as tall as 2-story buildings, were
found in a field off Laughlin Road, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

"Usually, they're not this big," said Orange County sheriff's Sgt. Rick Meli.

Investigators said they don't know who planted the marijuana, which had
with an estimated street value of about $1.2 million.

No arrests were made.

Each of the plants, which ranged from 6 to 18 feet tall, could produce as
much as 5 pounds of dried marijuana, Meli said.

Meli said the plants were hidden within other plants, called myrtles, that
look similar to marijuana and hide the illegal plant from view.

The marijuana plants were growing in a 500-square-foot area on the property.

Investigators chopped down the plants and plan to destroy them, Meli said.