(Illegal Marijuana Cultivation)
On Monday July 6, 2020 and Tuesday July 7, 2020, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) directed an operation targeting outdoor illegal marijuana cultivations in the unincorporated areas of Hemet and Sage. The operation was supported by members from the Riverside District Attorney’s Office Cannabis Regulation Task Force (CRTF), San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Marijuana Enforcement Team, United States Forest Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, and Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP).
Over the course of two days, the operation worked to eradicate illegal cultivation sites on over 1500 acres of public and private land. Over 91,000 marijuana plants were eradicated. In addition, 680 pounds of processed marijuana were recovered from a makeshift processing shed. The combination of processed marijuana and future harvest of the eradicated plants has an estimated street value of $45 million.
These illegal cultivations cause deforestation, destroy wildlife habitats, pose a threat to the citizens of Riverside County, and utilize hazardous chemical pollutants that cause damage to the environment. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department remains dedicated to eradicating these illegal cultivation sites.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator James Roy or Investigator Roman Pluimer at (951) 955-1700.
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