NISCEMI, Sicily – Police have arrested a 76-year-old Sicilian on charges of cultivating an indoor plantation of more than 1100 marijuana plants with a street market value of several hundred thousands of euros at his home in the province of Caltanisetta province, police said Tuesday.

 The plantation was grown in a basement floor of the building accessed by a primitive lift, the sources said. Cultivation was carried out with an irrigation plant, ventilation, fertilisers and powerful artificial lighting fundamental for the plants to grow.

 ENEL electricity company technicians discovered that the marijuana farmer had found a way to obtain power without paying, bilking the company of some 10,000 euros a month.

 The plants were taken to the Niscemi police station where they were to be destroyed. A local judge ordered the drug dealer be held under house arrest pending trial.

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