Staff Reports

San Bernardino – The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Marijuana Enforcement Team worked with the California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department to conduct an investigation regarding illegal marijuana cultivations or commercial marijuana activity. Eight warrants were put out as well as one follow up in the communities of Newberry Springs and Daggett.

On January 1, 2016, the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, or MMRSA, went into effect which in turn caused a sort of domino effect as San Bernardino County reacted by releasing a new marijuana ordinance to coincide with the Act. All marijuana cultivations found by investigators were in fact illegal and did not fall into the California medical marijuana laws or the County’s ordinance banning commercial cannabis.

In total, over 3,700 cannabis plants were seized as well as over 50 pounds of processed marijuana. Out of the eight locations, only one suspect, Thanh The Dies, was apprehended and released on citation. Investigators are currently in the process of identifying the other suspects so that they may be charged accordingly.

Law enforcement agencies and community based organizations are constantly backed by the support of the California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. In order to battle the illegal cannabis cultivations, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department uses the resources of the National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.

San Bernardino County will continue its efforts in ensuring that the city wide prohibition of commercial marijuana and all of its activities will be sustained to guarantee the health, safety and well-being for the residents of San Bernardino. Persons found in violation of state marijuana laws and county ordinances will be fined, prosecuted or seized of property.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation or any other illegal cultivation areas are encouraged to call the Sheriff’s narcotics Division at 909-890-4840. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-782-7463 or can go online at http://www.wetip.com.