Over Five Thousand Marijuana Plants Seized in Case of Illegal Cannabis Cultivation
Photo: grow site
Eight locations in the Helendale area of San Bernardino County were found to be illegally growing cannabis. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and officers from other patrol stations seized a total of 5,186 marijuana plants.
After receiving “numerous complaints about large outdoor marijuana cultivations in the area,” according to the release, investigators served search warrants at eight reported locations in the area of Bonanza Trail and Palomino Road on Friday, July 16, 2021. None of these places had addresses associated with them. Suspect Juan Nero Contreras, a 37-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested at the final spot and charged with cultivation of cannabis, over six plants.
The outdoor cannabis cultivations violated California’s Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) and San Bernardino County’s ordinance prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity.
“The Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division will continue to enforce California’s cannabis laws and San Bernardino County’s cannabis cultivation and distribution ordinance. Persons found guilty of violating the state law and county ordinance are subject to fines, prosecution, and seizure of property,” writes San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner John McMahon in the release.
He continues, “Property owners who are growing marijuana or are aware their tenants are growing marijuana on their properties violate state law. 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.”
