ASHLAND — State police are investigating the discovery of several marijuana plants growing on New York City-owned property in Ashland last Friday, Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman Jomo Miller said Thursday.
The state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation from the Catskill barracks are handling the case, Capt. Robert Appleton said.
DEC released information about the case on Thursday.
Five large marijuana plants were found growing on city Department of Environmental Protection property by an unknown person who left the DEC an anonymous tip, Miller said.
Department of Environmental Conservation Officers Michael Arp and Lucas Palmateer went to the property Aug. 28 and confiscated the plants, Miller said.
The plants were taken to the state police barracks in Catskill, where they were turned over to investigators and entered into evidence, Miller said.
The city Department of Environmental Protection owns more than 135,000 acres of land and water in the Catskill Mountains that are open for recreation, according to the DEP website.
More than half of those lands can be used for recreation without a permit, Miller said.
If you witness an environmental crime or believe a violation of environmental law has occurred, call the DEC Division of Law Enforcement hotline at 1-844-332-3267, Miller said.