YAKIMA -- Three men made their first court appearance Tuesday after they were arrested in connection with a marijuana growing operation outside of Granger.

Drug detectives were watching the grow about 8 p.m. Monday when a truck dropped off two of the men along State Route 22, according to a police report filed in Yakima County Superior Court.

Two of the men went into the field, and then were picked up again by the truck driver, who sped off, detectives said.

All three were arrested after a traffic stop. A .45 caliber pistol and a loaded magazine were found in the truck.

Detectives counted 550 plants in the field of Russian olives. Each plant would produce about $1,000 worth of marijuana at full street value.

A series of grows this spring has Yakima County leading the state in the number of seized marijuana plants. Including Monday's case, more than 77,000 plants have been ripped out of local fields.

The three men arrested Monday were being held at the county jail on $250,000 bail.