UPDATE: Barron Co. officials say marijuana growing operation was "high-tech"

A man is behind bars and hundreds of marijuana plants are seized after officials uncover what they are calling a "high-tech" drug operation.

The Barron County Sheriff's Department says Thursday morning 300 marijuana plants were discovered in a high-tech grow operation at farm in Barron County. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald says the search of the property was the result of a month-long investigation involving surveillance of 37-year-old Michael Haney of Comstock.

After officials uncovered the marijuana operation, Haney was arrested for suspicion of drug manufacturing. "Our concentration is still on Methamphetamine but Marijuana is still an illegal drug in Wisconsin and we will enforce that law," says Sheriff Fitzgerald. While there have been other drug busts in Barron county, officials are calling this one unique.

"This one was a pretty high-tech operation inside of a barn where they literally built another building inside of the top part of the barn to mask the smell and help assist with the grow operation," says Fitzgerald. Officials say several animals were found on the property during the search including two monkeys, which are now being looked after by a friend of the suspect.

The drug bust involved the Barron County Sheriff's Department, Rusk County, and Washburn County officials, along with the State Department of Criminal Investigation. Haney is being held in the Barron County jail.

BARRON COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) -- A man is behind bars after deputies say he was running a marijuana growing operation in Barron County.

According to Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, Michael Haney, 37 of Comstock, had over 300 marijuana plants in a barn.

Deputies say they found the operation after a month-long investigation. They were issued a search warrant Thursday morning.

Haney is being held in the Barron County Jail.