SEBRING — Marijuana seized over the weekend by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division was estimated to be worth more than $2.6 million had the plants been marketed at maturity.

Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Pearlman said Monday that the more than 650 plants seized from the six grow houses raided were at different stages of growth, some small, some mature. Their average value was loosely estimated at $4,000 when full grown.

In all, nine people were arrested in connection with the drug seizures and rock throwing or shooting.

Of the nine, seven were born in Cuba, six with Cuban citizenship and one held United States citizenship; one was Mexican born holding Mexican citizenship and one was born in Miami-Dade County holding United States citizenship.

The incident began Friday afternoon, when sheriff’s deputies arrived at 2611 Lake Josephine Drive answering a 911 report about a possible shooting or rock throwing in progress.

Sheriff’s Maj. Mark Schrader said the overwhelming odor of marijuana in the home led investigators to the swearing out of the first search warrant.

Consequently the warrant service lead to five more grow houses, according to Sheriff Susan Benton.

Those five homes were located at: 2210 Lake Josephine Drive, Sebring; 147 Williams Road, Lake Placid; 200 McMahon Lane, Lake Placid; 320 Guymon Ave., Lake Placid and 72 Quail Road, Venus.

“This has been a long-term investigation (several months),” Benton said. “And it is ongoing still. We’re continuing to look for others.”

Neither Pearlman or Benton would elaborate Monday how the other five houses became known to the Special Operations Division.

Three of the nine suspects had already bonded out of jail by Monday afternoon. The others had bond set at $101,000.

Whether the properties would be seized remained to be seen, Benton said. And if the sheriff’s office would benefit from the possible seizures would depend upon if the indictments were state or federal.

The sheriff’s office did seize several vehicles, a boat and other real property including air conditioners, generators, air handlers and lighting systems. Benton did not believe any cash was recovered.