The Associated Press

Fri, Jan 9, 2009 (1:27 p.m.)

Glenn County narcotics officers are searching for the operator of a bargain store after nearly 1,300 pot plants were found growing in the basement.

Police say a strong smell of marijuana led them to the 99 Cents with Value store in the rural community of Willows, about 75 miles north of Sacramento.

Investigators say the store opened in June and closed in September. They aren't sure how long the marijuana was growing in the basement.

Glenn Interagency Narcotics Task Force Commander Curtis Parks says processed marijuana from the 1,297 plants would have sold for about $1.3 million. The sophisticated lighting and watering system was worth about $60,000.

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Information from: Chico Enterprise-Record, http://www.chicoer.com