7 charged in Columbia County pot-growing operation

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

Authorities say they’ve charged seven people with growing nearly 600 marijuana plants police found in five rural eastern New York towns on or near the Massachusetts border.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office says 576 pot plants were seized during three raids between Aug. 19 and 26 in the towns of Canaan, Claverack, Copake, Ghent and New Lebanon. Officials say most of the plants — more than 300 — were found in Copake and New Lebanon.

Authorities have charged seven men ranging in age from 51 to 57 with unlawfully growing cannabis, a misdemeanor. All are from Columbia County.

A helicopter crew from the Massachusetts Army National Guard aviation unit based in Westfield, Mass., helped the sheriff’s department locate the pot plants.