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A MARIJUANA plantation growing crops worth nearly £100MILLION has been found in the Mexican desert.
The 300-acre plot could produce a massive 109 tons of the drug, which would be worth £99million.
It is the biggest marijuana plantation ever found in the country — and four times larger than the previous "record holder".
Six people were arrested after the Mexican army swooped on the compound, which has accommodation for 60 workers and its own toilet block.
It is not known who ran the field 150 miles south of Tijuana but the notorious Sinaloa cartel has been expanding in the area since its leader escaped from prison ten years ago.
The raid was led by General Alfonso Duarte, who said: "It is the largest marijuana plantation in Mexican history."
He also told how black screens protecting the plants from heat and sunshine had made it difficult to spot what was growing on the field, which lies in a tomato-farming area, from the air.
It was only when soldiers on the ground reached the isolated patch that they found thousands of plants.
General Duarte said: "We estimate that in this area approximately 60 people were working. When they saw the military personnel, they fled."
Troops will burn the entire plot.
The swoop came after Mexican authorities made their largest-ever seizure of marijuana packaged for sale last October.
They found a record 148 tons in a number of tractor trailers and houses in Tijuana.
The 300-acre plot could produce a massive 109 tons of the drug, which would be worth £99million.
It is the biggest marijuana plantation ever found in the country — and four times larger than the previous "record holder".
Six people were arrested after the Mexican army swooped on the compound, which has accommodation for 60 workers and its own toilet block.
It is not known who ran the field 150 miles south of Tijuana but the notorious Sinaloa cartel has been expanding in the area since its leader escaped from prison ten years ago.
The raid was led by General Alfonso Duarte, who said: "It is the largest marijuana plantation in Mexican history."
He also told how black screens protecting the plants from heat and sunshine had made it difficult to spot what was growing on the field, which lies in a tomato-farming area, from the air.
It was only when soldiers on the ground reached the isolated patch that they found thousands of plants.
General Duarte said: "We estimate that in this area approximately 60 people were working. When they saw the military personnel, they fled."
Troops will burn the entire plot.
The swoop came after Mexican authorities made their largest-ever seizure of marijuana packaged for sale last October.
They found a record 148 tons in a number of tractor trailers and houses in Tijuana.