Huge pot growing operation uncovered

Simsbury (WTNH) - A drug factory was discovered in a quiet Connectict town so big that Simsbury detectives said they haven't seen anything like it in years. The home on Oakhurst Road in Simsbury looks like any other in the quiet, rural area until police said they discovered a massive drug factory inside the house.

 "Somewhere between 300 and 500 plants at various growing stages," said Simsbury Police Chief Peter Ingvertsen. "The estimated street value on the low end is $600,000."

Andrew Bunda was arrested five days before his 50th birthday after nearly 30 officers stormed the home Thursday night. It was the culmination of a 5 week investigation that included both Simsbury detectives and the state police Narcotics Task Force. This was no amateur operation; a sophisticated watering and heating system had been set-up throughout the entire home.

"The house basically was kind of turned over into a greenhouse with growing lights and self-watering spickets," said Ingvertsen. "So a lot of mold occurred in there."

So much mold police couldn't even enter the home initially without protective gear on even hours after the bust. They were collecting evidence while wearing face masks.

Police said Bunda was essentially living in just one room, leaving the rest of the home to the pot production. He's now facing a variety of charges and police are saying this is the biggest drug bust here in the last decade. They said they have effectively crippled the marijuana trade throughout the entire Farmington Valley.

"A lot of drug factories are in smaller communities, less conspicuous, but we're no different than the surrounding towns," Ingvertsen said.

It does take a lot of electricity to keep light on the plants, and police said Bunda re-wired his house so the electricity consumption would not show on his bill. He is now being charged with larceny also for stealing electricity.