Seized marijuana from an illegal pot bust in Montrose County.

Bust uncovers 1,500 pounds of marijuana, worth estimated $4.5 million, in Montrose County

A massive marijuana grow with about 1,500 pounds of plants worth an estimated $4.5 million was busted on the Western slope over the weekend.

A Montrose County Sheriff’s deputy on Friday serving a warrant for overdue property taxes in the 69300 block of Orion Trail, east of Montrose, saw marijuana growing outdoors northeast of the residence, according to a news release.

To reach the front door of the rural residence the deputy walked past several hundred hanging, curing marijuana plants. The deputy contacted Chung Ho at the residence, who claimed he was not part of the marijuana grow. After posting papers on the property taxes the deputy cited Ho for the marijuana. The deputy then drove to an adjacent property and saw people get out of a running vehicle, with out-of-state plates, and run into a residence there. The vehicle was filled with stuffed trash bags.

Read the rest of this story on DenverPost.com.