Two female Chinese nationals arrested in connection with an extensive illegal marijuana grow operation extending across three counties made an initial appearance before a judge in Grays Harbor Superior Court Wednesday afternoon.

Yong Juan Wu, 38, and Fei-Hui Zheng, 50, both face charges related to the illegal manufacture of marijuana and unlawful use of buildings for drug purposes.

Judge David L. Edwards cited both defendants as flight risks in setting bail for each at $2 million. Prosecutors noted that Wu is wanted by federal immigration authorities who would seek to detain Wu should bail not be set.

Charges were expected to be formally brought against both defendants on Friday.

According to court documents, Wu is the owner of a Cosmopolis residence were the execution of a search warrant on Tuesday revealed a “large sophisticated commercial unlicensed marijuana grow operation.” Zheng is the owner of an Aberdeen address where a similar operation was found and allegedly made statements to arresting officers that the operation was “hers,” the documents continued.

Judge Edwards made a conditional appointment of a public defender for Zheng when she claimed to be unable to afford legal representation.

Eight more defendants in the same case were being processed for initial court appearances, prosecutors told Edwards at the time of the women’s court appearance.

The arrests of the women were among dozens made when search warrants were executed on addresses in Grays Harbor, King and Thurston counties on Tuesday morning. Law enforcement officials say the illegal grow operations may be connected with Chinese organized crime. The operation, which was overseen by the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force, involved cooperation between multiple local, state and federal agencies.

Todd Bennington | The Vidette Fei-Hui Zheng, left, and Yong Juan Wu, both Chinese nationals, in an initial court appearance at the Grays Harbor County Courthouse on Wednesday.