By Gina Yarbrough
Valley Center, CA–Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant to shut down an illegal marijuana cultivation site Friday in the north county.
Detectives from the Valley Center Sheriff’s Substation’s Crime Suppression team, along with assistance from the Sheriff’s Narcotics and Gangs Division and Special Enforcement Detail, served the warrant, just after 7:30 a.m., in the 29000 block of Cole Grade Road in Valley Center.
The warrant was part of an ongoing investigation by Sheriff’s detectives of illegal marijuana cultivation in an unincorporated area of Valley Center.
Seven people were detained during the operation. Detectives seized 15,000 live marijuana plants and 9.5 pounds of processed marijuana products with an estimated street value of more than $7.6 million.
San Diego County’s Code Compliance team, California Water Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and San Diego Gas & Electric also assisted in the operation. They discovered numerous violations on the property which created immediate health and safety risks as well as fire dangers.
