SANFORD, N.C. - Authorities have dropped charges in connection with a drug bust in Lee County after video of the crime scene appeared on YouTube.

WRAL-TV reported that an officer with the Sanford Police Department videotaped the bust. The video has been removed from the site, and the unidentified officer is no longer with the department.

Two men were caught with 1,000 pounds of marijuana and arrested on Jan. 25. The marijuana was tracked from Mexico to Lee County.

Investigators, prosecutors and defense attorneys said they didn't know the video existed until word spread that it was online.

After the defense argued that the video should be admitted into evidence, all but one charge but was dismissed against the men, who were sentenced to probation and released with time served.