FARMINGTON – Law enforcement agents have seized about 250 marijuana plants in the last few days in Franklin County and charged one man as they continued to eradicate this season’s crop, Franklin County Sheriff’s Lt. Niles Yeaton said Friday.

He estimated the value of the plants, had they reached full maturity and were sold on the street, at $250,000.

Crews were out again Friday searching the area by air and land for more plants.

About 220 plants were seized in the Phillips and Madrid area Thursday, Yeaton said, and about 23 were taken Wednesday from Wilton and South Carthage area.

Jay police confiscated 10 marijuana plants Friday morning that were growing in the East Jay area, Jay Police Chief Larry White Sr. stated via e-mail.

The plants were found after Jay police Cpl. Jeff Fournier investigated some information he had developed a growing operation and after a search.

White, Fournier and Detective Drew Hufnagel found the plants in a rural area, White stated.

The investigation is continuing to learn who was growing the plants, White stated.

The plants were valued at approximately $5,000 if processed and sold on the street, he added.

Yeaton said police did charge one person during the first two days of the eradication effort.

Agents spotted some plants about 6 feet tall in a backyard and a garden hose leading from them to a residence on Beal Pond Road in Madrid Township, Yeaton said.

They went to the house and saw a marijuana plant in the window and received a search warrant for the residence, he said.

Inside the house, they discovered the plant, some drying marijuana and drug paraphernalia including seeds and a grinder.

Keith Tripp, 53, of Madrid Township, was charged by summons of cultivating marijuana, Yeaton said.

Assisting the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department in the countywide operation were Maine Air National Guard, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Wilton and Jay police, University of Maine at Farmington police and the U.S. Border Patrol.