Thanks to our San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, who in partnership with Fish & Wildlife, Code Enforcement, and multiple other agencies, have continued to do the tough work battling illegal marijuana farms in our district.

During the past several weeks, the teams have successfully shut down several grows:

• On June 3, Hesperia Gang/ MET team deputies targeted a large-scale sophisticated operation with over 1,250 marijuana plants, a large amount of U.S. currency and three firearms.
• On June 4, Hesperia Station and County Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire, where a large marijuana cultivation operation with approximately 900 marijuana plants was discovered. Several pounds of processed marijuana and a large sum of U.S. currency were seized.
• On June 4, Hesperia deputies and County Fire responded to a fire where an active electrical bypass was located. The Hesperia Gang/MET team and County MET served a search warrant, resulting in the confiscation of 1,930 marijuana plants.
• On June 24, Apple Valley Police and Code Enforcement targeted several indoor and outdoor illegal marijuana cultivation sites, leading to the seizure of over 1,700 marijuana plants and the arrest of multiple subjects.
• On July 1, Victorville Police Department, MET personnel and our Gang/Narcotics Team recovered over 300 pounds of processed marijuana, 1,000 plants, multiple firearms/ammunition, and a stolen toy hauler trailer.
• On July 2, investigators served a search warrant at an outdoor marijuana cultivation in Oro Grande, where MET personnel arrested eight suspects, seized 1,455 marijuana plants, one semi-automatic shotgun, and 2,438.6 pounds of processed marijuana, valued at approximately $2.5 million.

The effects of the illegal marijuana grows in our communities are devastating. In addition to stolen water, stolen electricity, and fire hazards, the grows sometimes include violence or threats against residents and law enforcement, and environmental abuse, with toxic chemicals often released into the ground. Fish and Wildlife wardens are actively pursuing all environmental avenues, including recent felony charges of “Altering a Streambed” and “Cultivation of Marijuana within a Streambed.”

This Saturday, a Town Hall is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. in Phelan Community Park for residents of Phelan and Pinon Hills. First District Director Kimberly Mesen will be joining other local leaders at the event to discuss concerns, and solutions, to this pervasive and critical issue.

The County’s Sheriff's Gangs/Narcotics Division can be reached at (909) 387-8400 or NARC-MET@sbcsd.org. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-782-7463, or on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.