BEVERLY HILLS - Members of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Impact Unit (TIU) served four search warrants and made one arrest on Friday at separate, yet related, residences in the Pine Ridge development of Beverly Hills.

After a yearlong investigation, detectives discovered three sophisticated grow operations housing more than 725 marijuana plants in all stages of growth.

The fourth house contained the cut and ready-to-sell marijuana product as opposed to growing plants.

Detectives hit the four houses, all within a two mile radius, after being alerted by Crime Stoppers and other anonymous tips.

The first house, at 3355 W. Bird’s Nest Drive, yielded 110 plants. 5135 W. Hacienda Drive housed 462 plants and 4647 W. Bonanza Drive, contained 153 plants. Gordon Collins, 36, was arrested at 4537 W. Tomahawk Drive. He is facing multiple charges, including cultivation of cannabis. The Tomahawk home was not utilized as a grow house, but instead held the finished, processed cannabis product.

The Hacienda Drive house included plants in every stage of growth. The master bedroom used unique lighting to protect and nourish several mother plants, which are used to produce clones, along with several trays of clones. Optimal conditions must exist for mother plants to produce. Other rooms contained the plants in varying stages of growth ... the great room held plants less than two feet tall.

Another bedroom held plants around three to four feet high, and then another room contained the mature, budding plants. The plants were in the process of being harvested as several stalks were cut down. The drying buds were then hung for processing in a bathroom nearby. Once dry, the buds are then clipped, processed and sold.

Progress Energy played a significant role in the investigation helping detectives determine if unusually high levels of power were in use.

According to TIU (Tactical Impact Unit) Sgt. Justin Ferrara, the people involved in this ring were at the top of their game.

“The way they tapped into the utility’s power source was very impressive,” he said. “They were experts at camouflaging and concealing the fact that they were stealing power.”

The Sheriff’s Office will also work with the Drug Enforcement Administration on other aspects of the investigation, said Ferrara.

In all, detectives estimate that more than $1 million in marijuana was seized, and approximately $300,000 worth of electricity was stolen due to the grow-house operations. More arrests are pending and the investigation is continuing.