SAN PABLO – At least 25 men and woman were arrested in an expansive West Contra Costa drug sting that began Wednesday morning and concluded about 10 p.m., the West Contra Costa County Narcotics Task Force said.
In all, 1,200 marijuana plants with a street value of $600,000 and 20 pounds of processed marijuana with a street value of $90,000 were seized, said Fred Doran, commander of the task force.
The sting was the result of a five-month investigation that began when a Richmond resident reported strange activity at a neighbor's residence. The resident noticed that no one was living in the house permanently and people came and went frequently.
Investigators soon determined the house was used to grow marijuana, Doran said. They kept track of the people who came and went and connected them to 10 other locations.
All 11 locations – in San Pablo, Richmond and North Richmond – were searched Wednesday.
San Pablo and Richmond police departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, as well as state agents and the central county drug task force assisted.
Besides the marijuana, two firearms and $65,000 cash were seized.
"It was a large organization," Doran said.
All of those arrested were of Vietnamese descent, Doran said.
"Most of them have either become citizens or are here by means of legal documentation," he said.
In one of the locations, three children were taken into protective
custody and their parents were arrested on child endangerment charges. In a second location, two children were taken into protective custody because their parents were arrested and there was no other guardian.
News Hawk: Warbux 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Contra Costa Times
Author: Roman Gokhman
Contact: mailto:rgokhman@bayareanewsgroup.com
Copyright: 2010 The Contra Costa Times
Website: 25 arrested in East Bay drug sting - San Jose Mercury News
In all, 1,200 marijuana plants with a street value of $600,000 and 20 pounds of processed marijuana with a street value of $90,000 were seized, said Fred Doran, commander of the task force.
The sting was the result of a five-month investigation that began when a Richmond resident reported strange activity at a neighbor's residence. The resident noticed that no one was living in the house permanently and people came and went frequently.
Investigators soon determined the house was used to grow marijuana, Doran said. They kept track of the people who came and went and connected them to 10 other locations.
All 11 locations – in San Pablo, Richmond and North Richmond – were searched Wednesday.
San Pablo and Richmond police departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, as well as state agents and the central county drug task force assisted.
Besides the marijuana, two firearms and $65,000 cash were seized.
"It was a large organization," Doran said.
All of those arrested were of Vietnamese descent, Doran said.
"Most of them have either become citizens or are here by means of legal documentation," he said.
In one of the locations, three children were taken into protective
custody and their parents were arrested on child endangerment charges. In a second location, two children were taken into protective custody because their parents were arrested and there was no other guardian.
News Hawk: Warbux 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Contra Costa Times
Author: Roman Gokhman
Contact: mailto:rgokhman@bayareanewsgroup.com
Copyright: 2010 The Contra Costa Times
Website: 25 arrested in East Bay drug sting - San Jose Mercury News
