Between March 28, 2022 and April 10, 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 Apple Valley, Claremont, Twin Peaks, Barstow, Twentynine Palms, Lucerne Valley, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Newberry Springs, Hesperia, Oak Hills, Pinon Hills, Phelan, Chino Hills, Rowland Heights, and Pomona, and assisted in one traffic stop in Apple Valley.
MET personnel had received numerous complaints about large outdoor and indoor marijuana cultivations in these areas. Over the past two weeks, San Bernardino County Sheriff's personnel located and arrested 54 suspects. Investigators seized 82,116 marijuana plants, 7,496 pounds of processed marijuana, 29 guns, 4,421 grams of concentrated marijuana, 16 grams of methamphetamine, 2,268 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms, and over $204,000.00 in cash. Investigators eradicated a total of 321 greenhouses found at these locations and 20 indoor locations. Investigators mitigated one electrical bypass and three THC extraction labs and recovered one stolen motorcycle.
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, including 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, Possession of Stolen Property, Resisting Arrest, 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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