Patti Sapone/The Star-LedgerThose charged in the $10 million marijuana bust include (top row from left) Minh Bui, Ngoc Bui, Tuan Dang, (bottom row from left) Nhung Thach, Quynh Bui, and Thu Nguyen. Residents living near homes police said were used to grow marijuana were shocked their neighborhoods were launching pads for a $10 million drug operation.

Last month, police found 3,370 growing pot plants in five rented homes in Monroe, Old Bridge, Millstone, Manahawkin and Manalapan. Money and packaging materials were found in a sixth home, also in Old Bridge.

Authorities said the sophisticated indoor growing scheme operated undetected for two years. Three people have been arrested so far, while another three are on the run.

“This is a network of individuals who have extensive knowledge of the method of mass producing marijuana plants indoors,” Attorney General Paula Dow said. “They selected large houses, frequently in pretty upscale neighborhoods, where the properties are widely spaced and they were not likely to garner direct attention.”

A two-story lavender house on 535 Beach Ave. in Manahawkin fit that description. It was down the road from a high school, located a quarter mile back from the road in a heavily wooded area. Police say the found 464 plants there.

Next-door neighbor Edna Collins said she never knew something illegal was going on until she saw a dozen police SUVs up and down the street.

“How would you know?” she said. “You would never see anything.”

Another 504 plants were found in another two-story home with a three-car garage at 38 Robbins Road in Millstone.

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