Four people were arrested in Hopkinton in connection with a marijuana bust at 1191 Maple St. – one of many locations around the state.

Nu Thi Tran, Quoc My Tran, Tai T. Nguyen and Binh Huu Bui were charged with conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.

Nu Tran and Bui were released on bail pending further court proceedings, but Quoc Tran and Nguyen were still detained as of Tuesday, Dec. 19.

The four suspects in Hopkinton are among 11 people who have been arrested in connection with the police operation, labeled “Operation Green Thumb.”

“It was a matter of circumstance that these four individuals were found when the police came to each home,” said Thomas Colantuono, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire.v

What started off as an unexpected marijuana bust in Hooksett on Oct. 23 has turned into a statewide raid of 10 homes – one in Hopkinton – resulting in more than 6,000 plants at an estimated value of $24 million.

The Hooksett bust originated after a neighbor called in a smallfire from the home. Police found 780 plants in the basement. Then, on Nov. 2, police discovered a similar operation – 1,396 plants being grown out of an Epsom basement. Power shortages and a blown transformer led to suspicion of illegal activity in the home.

The two busts then led to “Operation Green Thumb,” according to Colantuono, a statewide investigation involving state police, the U.S. Attorney’s office, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office, DEA, Immigration Customs Enforcement, as well as police chiefs from Andover, Cantebury, Chester, Concord, Derry, Epsom, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Londonderry, Pembroke and Weare.

The overall investigation revealed a sophisticated marijuana growing operation involving the theft of a large amount of electricity from several power sources, state police said. Investigators said the power thefts may have been accomplished by bypassing electric meters using both underground and above ground methods.

Authorities said some of the electrical bypass methods constituted a safety hazard, citing a Hooksett incident where electrical arrangement caused the home to catch fire.

“The electric company, PSNH, was involved in both original cases because the fire started in Hooksett because of an electrical problem and working with PSNH, (the investigation) developed,” said Colantuono.

“As far as the complexity of (the wiring), it’s not something just anybody can do.”

According to documents from Colantuono’s office, the Hopkinton home, purchased for $335,000, is owned by Nu Thi Tran. Inside the home, authorities found roughly 900 plants growing at an estimated street value of $3.6 million.

The lack of activity at the home caught the attention of at least one neighbor.

“I’ve never seen anybody there, no car, no dog, nobody cutting the grass. There was nobody ever there,” said neighbor Cathy Trahan. “I always wondered about the house, why it was always empty, and I often asked other people and they never saw anything going on there either.”

Hopkinton Police Chief David Wheeler said his department had a role with the entry and search team, but could not comment further. He said it is his understanding that the current owners have been in the home for roughly a year and, although he couldn’t comment on possible suspicion of illegal activity during that time, he has no suspicions of the previous owners. The investigation is ongoing, said Colantuono.

“We’re continuing to ask the public to be aware of anything suspicious in their neighborhood and report any potential illegal activity to local law enforcement,” he said.