Two Austin men were charged in federal court Thursday as part of a large, suburban Minnesota marijuana bust.

Winston Hguyen, 32, and Hao Thi Doan, 36, both from Austin, join 16 other men charged with conspiracy to manufacture 1,000 or more marijuana plants.

According to a court affidavit, search warrants were executed June 30 at a number of suburban homes, and six houses were found to have active marijuana “grow” operations. These houses were in Savage, Shakopee, Lakeland, Elk River, Anoka and Coon Rapids.

Another three houses were found to have evidence of dismantled grows, including a house at 816 Pleasant Ave. in St. Paul Park, Minn., which is owned by the Austin defendants.

In all the locations, authorities said they discovered that power for the marijuana operations had been stolen by tapping into the electrical panel before the meter.

According to various news reports, authorities seized more than 3,000 marijuana plants worth roughly $6 million in street value.

It does not appear that the two local men operated or helped facilitate marijuana operations in Austin.