Cops raid marijuana factory

About $1.75 million in drugs and cash seized BLOOMING GROVE — Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Detectives from the Pike County District Attorney’s Office on May 28 raided a Pike County marijuana growing operation. At 6 a.m., the state police Special Emergency Response Team served a search warrant at the residence of Kenneth Donald Kraeger, 59, at 162 Killer Road, in Blooming Grove Township. They found a hydroponics marijuana growing operation, located in the basement of the residence. A state police lab team dismantled and inventoried the operation. Approximately 80 pounds of processed marijuana, valued by police at $200,000, about 1,000 marijuana plants, with a $250,000 street value, and $26,000 in cash was seized from the scene. Kraeger was charged with one count each of: Manufacture of Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Kraeger was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jay Rose and failed to post $500,000 bail and was remanded to the Pike County Prison. On that same day, troopers went to 244 Wild Meadow Drive, in Dingman Township, to interview Diana Mari at her residence in connection with the Kraeger investigation. The police statement reads that “Upon arrival Troopers detected an odor of marijuana. Troopers then observed marijuana plants and various drug paraphernalia used in the manufacturing of marijuana. Troopers exited the residence and Mari was arrested and charged with Manufacture of Marijuana. The residence was secured and police got a search warrant.” Mari was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Stephen McBride. She failed to post $150,000 bail and was remanded to the Pike County Prison. On the following morning, state police searched Mari’s residence with the assistance of the state police lab team. Approximately 500 marijuana plants, with an estimated $1,000,000 street value, and 100 pounds of processed marijuana, estimated at $250,000 value on the street, were seized at this location. The state police investigation is continuing.