kOSCIUSKO COUNTY -- It's a bust that even shocked investigators. Thousands of marijuana plants were discovered in rural Kosciusko County. It's being called the biggest marijuana bust ever in Indiana.

It all began Thursday when police got a tip about a possible marijuana growing operation near 950 North and 500 East in Kosciusko County. When officers got to there, they found three suspects and what they thought were 2,000 marijuana plants. They now estimate that number to be over 6,000.

The plants are being kept at the Indiana State Police Bremen Post.

It's not just a shocking sight.

"This size of a grow is, yes, surprising," said Indiana State Police trooper Brandon McBrier.

Police say for some, the smell can be downright nauseating.

"Usually the civilian staff who work here are the ones who are here all the time during the day. And they're the ones that are really complaining about headaches and stuff from the odors," said McBrier.

The Marijuana Eradiction Team found the 6,000 plants in rural Kosciusko County last week. Because the plants will be used as evidence, officers had to pull all of them out — a job that wasn't easy.

"They said they had 10 individuals who helped out for approximately 10 hours," said McBrier.

Police are using fans and blowers to dry out the plants. Once the plants are dried, the leaves will be taken off the stems. They will then be weighed to find out how much marijuana is actually there. That weight will determine the severity of the charges the suspects will face.

Many of the plants are on the smaller side, just a few feet tall. Police say if they kept growing, by October they would have reached anywhere from seven to 12 feet tall — a height that would have made them mature enough to process and sell.

"I'm glad to know that the individuals with the Marijuana Eradication Program are out there. They're looking for it, they're hunting for it. And this is a very good success," said McBrier.

Having that many plants in one building is creating a pretty bad smell. Some workers are feeling nauseous and are getting headaches. Each plant has an estimated value of $1,000.

A 16-year-old boy and 2 men are in custody following that huge pot bust. Mario Camacho and Mariano Gonzalez face several charges including cultivating marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The teenager is in the Juvenile Justice Center.