Press Releases

Details:

On September 23, 2020, personnel from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Hemet Police Department, Riverside Police Department, Murrieta Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department, Bureau of Land Management, California Water Board, Riverside County Animal Control, CAL-Fire, American Medical Response, Tactical Emergency Medical Services and Riverside County Code Enforcement served thirty-eight marijuana cultivation related search warrants in the unincorporated county areas of Anza and Aguanga.  During the service, approximately 31,878 plants were eradicated and 4,165 pounds of processed marijuana was collected, for a total combined weight of approximately twenty tons.  Twenty-five firearms (seven handguns, six shotguns, twelve rifles) were collected for evidence.  A total of $46,221 in currency was collected for asset forfeiture proceedings.  A stolen trailer was recovered at one of the locations.  Ten jars of concentrated “honey oil” and a Butane Hash Oil laboratory was dismantled on one of the properties.  Carbofuran, classified as a toxic pesticide that has been banned in the United States for endangering domestic animals and wildlife and is a known hazard to the water table, was located at one of the locations.

 The following suspects were arrested for Marijuana Cultivation:

• 68-year-old Anza resident Edward Lugo (cited and released)
• 49-year-old Rowland Heights resident Guansheng Zheng
• 42-year-old Anza resident Mai Yang
• 56-year-old Anza resident Neng Yang
• 82-year-old Anza resident Larry Bosell (cited and released)
• 30-year-old Anza resident Huber Avalos
• 44-year-old Anza resident Douglas Bailey (cited and released)

The goal of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is to keep all of our citizens safe while also improving the quality of life for those residing within the community.  Marijuana cultivation negatively impacts the environment in many ways including diminishing and poisoning the water table and pesticides adversely affecting the health of neighboring residents.  The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has a zero-tolerance policy for these offenses.  If you suspect drug activity in your area, please contact your local Sheriff’s Station.  The Hemet Sheriff’s Station can be reached at (951) 791-3400 and the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station can be reached at (951) 766-2400.  Criminal activity can also be reported through the We-Tip Crime Reporting Hotline, (909) 987-5005 or wetip.com

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

Guansheng Zheng	Mai Yang	Neng Yang	Huber Avalos