Kirkland police served search warrants early Thursday morning on several homes suspected to be used in the illegal growing and distribution of marijuana.

It was part of a larger effort, which included two homes in Seattle and three in Kirkland.

Kirkland police detectives had been investigating the operation for about four months. The homes were “used to operate high-tech grow operations” of marijuana plans in residential neighborhoods, according to the release.

Police located subjects at some of the houses, and charged the subjects with various felony crimes. Names of the subjects and locations of the homes have not been released.

Residents living near one of the houses reported suspicious activity to Kirkland police, and the case grew to five homes in two cities.

The investigation included Seattle Police and Lynwood Police, as well as a few other agencies.

“This is a great example of cooperation between the community and the police where residents observed suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and reported it to the police,” the release stated.

UPDATE: The Kirkland homes were in the Finn Hill, North Juanita and Kingsgate neighborhoods, according to a release on Friday, July 22.

Police detectives removed more than 500 marijuana plans from the homes. Excluding those plants entered into evidence, the plants will be transported to Spokane for incineration.