The kidnapping call was fake, but the massive amount of marijuana in a barn was real, SC cops say

Sheriff’s deputies were called to a South Carolina residence about a reported kidnapping, which turned out to be fake. But they didn’t leave empty handed.

Three people were arrested and nearly a 100 marijuana plants were confiscated by Greenville County Sheriff’s deputies, who broke up what Sgt. Ryan Flood called a “sophisticated” operation.

Flood reported that deputies were responding to the location because of a call about a kidnapping. That was determined to be “unfounded.”

While deputies were investigating the kidnapping call, they reported smelling “a strong odor of marijuana coming from a barn on the property,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

After getting a search warrant, the deputies noses were proven to be correct, as they discovered “a large-scale marijuana grow,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Flood reported the search of the barn produced 76 marijuana plants, with some ranging between 7- to 8-feet tall. Deputies also recovered lighting and ventilation that were part of the marijuana growing operation.

The sheriff’s office said it did not know how long it had been in operation, but Jose Angel Curbelo-Horta, Yanet Bazan Baez and Elieser Curbelo Rosales were arrested and each charged with manufacturing marijuana.

Although they were arrested in a rural area of Greenville County, all three are listed as residents of Miami, according to arrest warrants.

They have been taken to the Greenville County Detention Center where they are waiting for bond hearings.