ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. -- Officials are investigating a large poppy growing operation.

  • Plants illegal in NC
  • Grown on Cloyd Moore Road in Taylorsville
  • Worth hundreds of thousands of dollars

Deputies say the plants, which are used to create opium, were being grown at a home on Cloyd Moore Road in Taylorsville.

They believe the plants are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Investigators had to suit up in protective gear to gather up the plants, which are illegal to grow in North Carolina.

According to the Alexander County Sheriff's Office, an estimated 2,000 plants were seized.

Two suspects, Xee Yang and Cha Yang, were charged with Trafficking Schedule I Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Dwelling for Controlled Substance, and Manufacturing Schedule I Controlled Substance.

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Image of opium tar puddy
Product of the opium plants. This is the actual drug. It’s like a tar puddy. Investigators think it’s smoked. The amount in the jar is worth $20,000