It may sound like pure luck, but the discovery helped police arrest 16 people and seize 1.2 tons of marijuana and almost $800,000 in cash and valuables, according to the Associated Press.

 

The marijuana capture was possible with the help of satellite images provided by Google Earth. The plantation was hidden inside a corn field in Thurgau, and according to authorities it was 7,500 square meters in size.

 

 It does seem quite dumb for the marijuana-cultivators to end their business like this (and they’ll probably avoid mentioning that on their resume too, in case they’ll try their luck in this business again).

 

The Zurich authorities told AP that the gang was believed to have been involved in marijuana and hashish trafficking between 2004 and 2008, and to have earned considerable sums of money, of up to 10 million francs a year.

 

The suspects will be formally charged in February, and the chances are that they will be sentenced to prison. In the meantime, the investigation continues.

 

In most countries, the cultivation, possession or distribution of marijuana - also known as cannabis or ganja – is prohibited by law.

 

However, there is also the so-called medical marijuana, which in some parts of the world, including the United States, has been approved for treating various medical conditions, including cancer and HIV. Other medical uses of marijuana are still being investigated by health specialists.