Local and federal authorities on Thursday arrested three Lubbock men on charges in connection with a large-scale marijuana growth and distribution operation.

Investigators with the Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized marijuana, firearms and a large amount of cash when they arrested Kyle Brandon Walker, 34, Shawn Mark McCardell, 27, and Justin Michael Rascher, 21, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Lubbock Sheriff Kelly Rowe said Thursday’s bust, which gathered more than 900 marijuana plants, shut down a hydroponic-marijuana growing operation he believes had been a significant supplier of marijuana in the Lubbock area.

“This is as big an operation as I’ve ever seen,” he said.

But it wasn’t clear, Rowe said, how Thursday’s bust would affect the supply of marijuana in the Lubbock area.

He said additional seizures and arrests still could be made in the case as it remained under investigation late Thursday.

Along with more than 900 marijuana plants, investigators seized about $750,000 in cash as well as 10 fire arms including pistols, rifles and shot guns, Rowe said.

Four motor vehicles and one boat also were seized during the raid in Lubbock and Crosby counties. Four residences in Lubbock County and one in Crosby County could be seized as a result of the investigation, he said.

A federal grand jury, in a sealed indictment filed Wednesday and unsealed Thursday, charged Walker, McCardell and Rascher with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 1,000 or more marijuana plants and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana.

McCardell faced an additional count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana.

Walker faced two additional counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana and one count of maintaining drug-involved premises.

According to the indictment, Walker leased two lots at White River Lake in Crosby County to manufacture marijuana.

Included in the indictment was a document requiring the defendants, if convicted, to forfeit any proceeds and property used in or obtained as a result of the offenses.

If convicted, the defendants each face 10 years to life in federal prison and a $4 million fine.

Walker, McCardell and Rascher were scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Nancy M. Koenig today for their initial appearance.