Portsmouth Man Arrested for Massive $100K Pot Growing Operation

PORTSMOUTH, NH — A local man was arrested this week on felony marijuana charges after police reportedly uncovered a large growing operation on Woodbury Avenue. Christian Lydon, 47, of Woodbury Avenue in Portsmouth, was arrested on Jan. 11, 2017, for unlawful manufacture of a controlled drug and possession of a controlled drug, both felonies.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Portsmouth Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

About a month ago, police started an investigation into a possible marijuana growing operation after a detective, on a routine patrol of Woodbury Avenue, smelled marijuana in the air, according to Lt. Mark Newport of the Portsmouth Police Department. During the course of the investigation, police located the source of the odor – on Woodbury Avenue, in the area between Echo Avenue and Maplewood Avenue – and later, arrested Lydon.

According to police, during a search of the residence, 51 marijuana plants were found growing inside of the “sophisticated indoor grow house” in the basement of the home. The estimated street value of the marijuana was around $100,000.

Anyone with any information relative to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Michael Kotsonis at 603-610-7523.