RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTSheriff Chad Bianco |
| Press Release: | Illegal Marijuana Cultivation
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| Station Area: | Anza |
| Written Date: | July 24, 2020 | Time: | 9:46 AM |
| Incident Date: | July 20-21, 2020 | Time: | 7:00 AM |
| Incident Location: | 44000 block of Stanley Road, Hemet / 45000 block of Geraldi Place, Anza
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| Reporting Officer: | Sergeant Michael Yarbrough
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| File Number(s): | R201970005 / R201960006
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Details:
On Monday July 20, 2020 and Tuesday July 21, 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 Anza. The operation was supported by members from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station, the Riverside District Attorney’s Office Cannabis Regulation Task Force (CRTF), 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 1000 acres of public and private land. Over 84,000 marijuana plants were eradicated. In addition, 44 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 $42 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.
