A month-long investigation led to a big time drug bust on Friday night when the Kings County Narcotic Task Force working alongside county sheriff's deputies eradicated a marijuana garden growing on the banks of the Kings River.

Investigators destroyed approximately 33 marijuana plants at the Highway 43 and Cairo Avenue site near Laton and confiscated several ounces of processes marijuana ready for sale. The marijuana has an estimated street value of roughly $100,000, officials said.

Arrested at the scene just after 9 p.m. was 47-year-old Sam Lee Hughes, who was found in possession of the marijuana and was apparently cultivating the garden at the time, sources with the Task Force said.

Hughes was booked into the Kings County Jail on suspicion of cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and a special allegation of committing a felony while out on bail. He was being held in lieu of $165,000 bail.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Sept. 22, 2008)