STRONG – Police seized approximately 30 pounds of marijuana Tuesday at a Norton Hill Road residence, Franklin County Sheriff’s Lt. Niles Yeaton said.

“They were some of the best plants I’ve seen all year,” Yeaton said. “They were nice plants, a lot of bud.” He estimated their street value at $72,000.

Deputy Ken Charles arrested Ronald Cabe, 51, of Strong, on a felony charge of aggravated trafficking in marijuana and a misdemeanor charge of marijuana cultivation, Yeaton said.

After conducting an investigation, Yeaton said, police obtained a search warrant and served it Tuesday morning at the residence.

Police found 21 mature marijuana plants, he said, 20 growing inside and one outside.

Some marijuana had been processed and was hanging to dry, he said, and about 10 pounds of it was packaged, Yeaton said.

Deputies and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency agents from the Lewiston office also confiscated drug paraphernalia and about $950 believed to be proceeds from drug sales, he said.

Cabe posted $500 cash bail and was released at 3:15 p.m. from the Franklin County jail in Farmington, a corrections officer said.