PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office tells WINK News they busted a husband and wife for growing marijuana.

On Friday, Detectives of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Narcotics Unit arrested Arthur W. Blais, 47, and his 46 year old wife, Laurie Jean Blais at their Port Charlotte home.

The Narcotics Unit, assisted by Traffic, K-9, and the County SWAT team, searched the home after a deputy reported smelling a very strong odor of marijuana coming from building at the rear of a home at 22010 Hernando Ave.

After the home was cleared, detectives say they found located 65 marijuana plants in one of the home's outbuildings. The marijuana plants were grown in a hydroponics manner with high powered lights, irrigation and cooling systems.

The marijuana weighed 43.8 pounds.

Detectives also found baggies of marijuana in a bedroom weighing 19.5 grams, plus various quantities of pills identified as Darvocet, Serex, Neurontin, Carisoprodal and Prochlorperazine.

Arthur Blais admitted to knowledge of the marijuana grow operation and stated that his wife and children were unaware of the operation.

A Glock 9mm handgun with ammunition and a J.C. Higgins 222 caliber rifle were also found in the bedroom. Arthur Blais told detectives he was a convicted felon, but the weapons were not registered to him. He said he knew the weapons were in his bedroom and he had access to them.

Arthur Blais was charged with Trafficking in Marijuana over 25 pounds, Cultivation of Marijuana, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Both were charged with two counts of Possession of Controlled Substances Darvocet and Serex; and three counts of Possession of a Prescription with a Prescription for Neurontin, Carisprodal and Prochlorperazine.

Laurie Blais was additionally charged with Possession of Marijuana Under 20 Grams.