Another Man Arrested in Pot Growing Operation

A west Lexington County marijuana growing operation has netted another arrest, Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said.

Officers with the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) on Friday arrested Leandro Fabian Aguirre, 54, at Aguirre’s home at 1150 Parrish Road near Leesville, the sheriff said.

Aguirre’s arrest is connected to the arrests that NET officers made on Oct. 4 of six persons who were involved "in a large-scale sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation" that was conducted at six homes near Batesburg, Gilbert and Leesville, Metts said.

Officers received information on Friday that Aguirre was growing marijuana indoors on his property, Metts said. Officers went to Aguirre’s home at about 8:20 a.m. on Friday and searched a storage building and found 54 marijuana plants, hydroponic lights, a water filtration system, an electrical box that contained more than 20 transformers, and other items that are used in an indoor marijuana growing operation, Metts said. 

The marijuana plants were between 6 feet and 7 feet tall.

To see photos from the raid, click here.

Officers seized the 54 marijuana plants as well as one .25-caliber handgun and one digital electronic scale, Metts added.  

Metts said the case remains under investigation, and the sheriff said officers might arrest additional persons. Officers are continuing to investigate where marijuana from the indoor-growing operations was sold and how the marijuana was distributed. 

Metts asked anyone with information about indoor marijuana growing operations to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department web site.