San Bernardino County's "Operation Hammer Strike" struck again, with law enforcement seizing over 60,000 illicit cannabis plants in weeks seven and eight of the investigation.
In week seven from Oct. 11-17, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (SBSD) Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and other deputies served 23 search warrants for various locations across nine cities in San Bernardino County, after receiving "numerous complaints" about illegal outdoor and indoor cannabis cultivations within these areas, according to a press release from SBSD headquarters.
Sheriff's personnel arrested 15 suspects and eradicated 159 greenhouses, one THC extraction lab and three electrical bypasses, the release states. Investigators also seized "20,031 marijuana plants, 3,596 pounds of processed marijuana, three guns, 8 grams of concentrated marijuana and 8.9 grams of methamphetamine."
Twenty-three search warrants were issued in week eight of the operation, which took place Oct. 18-24, according to a press release from SBSD headquarters.
Law enforcement personnel arrested 38 suspects and liquidated 160 greenhouses and six indoor grow facilities throughout the locations.
According to the release, investigators also found over 40,000 illicit cannabis plants, more than 5,000 pounds of processed cannabis, nearly $120,000 in cash and seven guns.
The multiyear investigation, designed to discover unlawful cannabis cultivations in San Bernardino County, Calif., has had tremendous success over the last two months.
During the last eight weeks, officials have served 183 search warrants and have made 238 arrests. Deputies have also seized the following items: "186,916 plants, 38,911 pounds of already processed marijuana, 8 grams of concentrated cannabis, 8 grams of methamphetamine, 57 guns, $563,449 in illicit narcotic sales proceeds, and eradicated and taken down 1,022 greenhouses, 5 locations with illegal electrical bypasses, and 2 THC extraction labs," the release states.
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