Between February 28, 2022, and March 13, 2022, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department - Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), along with San Bernardino Sheriff's deputies from several different Patrol Stations, served 53 search warrants at various locations in Hesperia, Pinon Hills, Oak Hills, Apple Valley, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Diamond Bar, Spring Valley Lake, San Gabriel, Devore, Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, Landers, Fontana, Lucerne Valley, Oro Grande, Helendale, Phelan, Newberry Springs, and Alhambra. MET personnel had received numerous complaints about large outdoor and indoor marijuana cultivations in these areas.
Over the past two weeks, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's personnel located and arrested 73 suspects. Investigators seized 156,252 marijuana plants, 4,968.9 pounds of processed marijuana, 22 guns, 453 grams of concentrated marijuana, and over $98,000.00 in cash. Investigators eradicated a total of 379 greenhouses found at these locations, as well as 30 indoor locations. Investigators mitigated three electrical bypasses and two THC extraction lab.
The investigations revealed the cannabis cultivations were not in compliance with California's Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) and San Bernardino County's ordinance prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity. San Bernardino County has a law prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity, which includes growing marijuana plants outdoors.
The Sheriff's Gangs/Narcotics Division will continue to enforce California's cannabis laws and San Bernardino County's ordinance regarding cannabis cultivation and distribution. Persons found guilty of violating the state law and county ordinance are subject to fines, prosecution, and seizure of property.
Property owners who are growing marijuana or are aware their tenants are growing marijuana on their properties in violation of the state law and local ordinances may also be subject to civil or criminal sanctions. Property owners are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement or code compliance agency to confirm if cultivating cannabis is prohibited or allowed under specific regulations.
The suspects were cited or booked on charges of Cultivation of Cannabis, over six plants, Possession for Sales of Marijuana, Illegal Water Discharge, Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, Utility Theft, and Conspiracy.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Sheriff's Gangs/Narcotics Division at (909)387-8400 or NARC-MET@sbcsd.org. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or you may leave the information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.
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