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A Hiddenite man faces drug charges after authorities say they found more than 136 marijuana plants during a search of his residence.
Dustin Wayne Smith, 40, was arrested Wednesday after officials say they’d received a tip that he was growing marijuana in his residence at the Pritchard Mobile Home Park located just south of Hiddenite, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Smith also had outstanding warrants against him in Alexander and Iredell counties for failing to appear for DWI and drug offenses, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
During Wednesday’s search, authorities said they seized marijuana plants ranging in size from two inches to more than seven feet tall. They also seized what officials described as a “large” amount of paraphernalia used to manufacture the drugs.
Officials also seized 34 marijuana plants from a nearby residence. Officials have not yet made an arrest in that case, but believe it is related to the operation at Smith’s residence.
On Wednesday, Smith told television reporters that he began growing the marijuana plants after he couldn’t find a job, the station reported.
“(It) makes me cry to see all of my hard work destroyed this bad,” Dustin Smith told WSOC-TV as the marijuana plants were seized.
Smith is charged with manufacture of a controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling for controlled substance and possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance. He is expected to appear in court on Monday.
