PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island State Police say they arrested eight people involved in an “elaborate illegal marijuana grow operation.”

The investigation began from an anonymous tip about drug activity spanning across locations in Lincoln, North Providence, North Scituate, Providence, Westerly and Woonsocket, according to state police.

Investigators executed a search warrant last week and seized the following:

• Four firearms
• One large-capacity feeding device
• 279.4 pounds of usable marijuana
• 922 mature marijuana plants
• 859 immature marijuana plants
• One pound of marijuana shatter
• 468 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
• 11.1 grams of cocaine
• 65 Oxycodone pills
• 30 amphetamine pills
• one motor vehicle
• two motorcycles
• $79,876 in cash

The suspects range in age from 26 to 59 and live in North Providence, Narragansett, Lincoln, Woonsocket, North Scituate and Charlestown.

A North Providence man is facing gun charges, while he and the other suspects are all facing various drug possession and conspiracy charges.

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