171 Lbs. Of Processed Pot, Firearms Seized In San Bernardino County Raids
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — A two-day crackdown in unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County has yielded over 5,500 marijuana plants, multiple firearms and over a dozen arrests, authorities said Friday.
Between Aug. 20-21, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Marijuana Enforcement Team served nine search warrants for residential properties in Joshua Tree, Landers, Bloomington and Helendale, according to Sheriff's Department Corp. Randy Naquin.
Large-scale outdoor marijuana cultivations were found growing in unsecured fenced-in areas - commonly referred to as "Plywood Grows" - at the locations, Naquin said.
Fourteen suspects between the ages of 19 and 60 years of age were arrested, authorities said.
In addition to seizing over 171 pounds of processed marijuana, authorities confiscated two sawed-off shotguns and a large quantity of Hydrocodone pills and the arrest of 14 suspects.
Investigators say the large amount of marijuana seized at the locations suggests the suspects - many of whom were allegedly utilizing fictitious medical marijuana recommendations - had no intention of abiding by the states medical marijuana laws and were strictly for-profit operations.
The suspects are currently awaiting arraignment, according to Naquin.
