Secret Door Hides Underground Pot Farm In Red Oak

RED OAK, Texas (AP) – A hidden door in a structure in Red Oak led officers to an underground marijuana operation and more than 150 flourishing plants.

Ellis County Sheriff’s deputies say it appears 46-year-old Dwayne Nielsen had a sophisticated hydroponics farm.

Nielsen is charged with possession of marijuana over five pounds and under 50 pounds. He’s free on $40,000 bond. Jail records had no listing of an attorney for Nielsen on Friday.

KTVT television reports officers searched a detached garage and found a bookcase that hid a secret door.

Capt. Danny Williams says deputies located a key, which released a magnet behind the door that opened to a stairwell leading to underground rooms.

Investigators believe the operation, which was discovered Wednesday, was capable of turning out $1 million worth of pot annually.

Red Oak is about 20 miles south of Dallas.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)