Marijuana in suburbs a lucrative enterprise
The News Review:
- Marijuana in suburbs a lucrative enterprise
- Recent pot busts in Southern California
- Drug task force seizes marijuana plants.
- Mexican Navy Takes Aim At Marijuana Fields
- Tolkien relative ’sold drugs’
- 12 arrested in local drug sweep
- Elk Grove real estate agent linked to nearly half of 21 pot homes
Marijuana in suburbs a lucrative enterprise
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Sep 22, 2007
checking on something. Something green, leafy and illegal. Today’s marijuana mills are in some of the region’s finer homes, from a four-bedroom split-level in Diamond Bar to an upscale Apple Valley home worth $650,000. The operations are a far cry from the backwoods greenhouses and underground grow bunkers often favored by suburban pot cultivators. The relative opulence of the houses is a clear sign that today’s growers have changed their tactics and will invest a lot into masking a highly lucrative business. In June alone, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s narcotics division seized a total of 4,416 plants with a potential value of $15 million, making it one of their busiest months this year. Though the pace of the busts slowed as the summer wore on, two recent incidents served as reminders of the ongoing crackdown:On Sept… “I don’t think it has anything to do with nation of origin. Big businessMake no mistake about it, pot is big business. A majority of the nation’s cannabis cultivation is in the Western states. California leads the pack, producing more than a third of the nation’s total harvest, about $13. 8 billion worth, according to a report released last year by a marijuana public policy analyst. The report by Jon Gettman, a marijuana reform activist, contends that pot in the U.
Recent pot busts in Southern California
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Sep 22, 2007
Authorities say the pot had a street value of about $20 million. 2) March 14: Methamphetamine, marijuana and drug equipment are found in a Chino Hills house. 3) March 21: More than 2,000 marijuana plants are recovered in a Diamond Bar house. 4) March 28: Almost 1,900 marijuana plants, valued at $12 million, are found in Chino Hills and Diamond Bar houses… Authorities say the pot had a street value of about $20 million. 2) March 14: Methamphetamine, marijuana and drug equipment are found in a Chino Hills house. 3) March 21: More than 2,000 marijuana plants are recovered in a Diamond Bar house. 4) March 28: Almost 1,900 marijuana plants, valued at $12 million, are found in Chino Hills and Diamond Bar houses. 5) March 31: About 150 pounds of pot are seized from a house in the 1600 block of El Camino Street in Pomona. 6) April 4: 1,800 plants are seized from two Rowland Heights houses.
Drug task force seizes marijuana plants.
Free with registration - Centre Daily Times - AccessMyLibrary.com - Sep 22, 2007
| Centre Daily Times (State College, PA) (September, 2007). 22–More than 50 marijuana plants were seized Friday from a field in Ferguson Township, bringing a two-week investigation in Centre County, which yielded more than 200 plant… –> COPYRIGHT 2007 Centre Daily Times Byline: Sara Ganim Sep. 22–More than 50 marijuana plants were seized Friday from a field in Ferguson Township, bringing a two-week investigation in Centre County, which yielded more than 200 plants, to a close, District Attorney Michael Madeira said. The Centre County Drug Task Force completed the marijuana eradication.
Mexican Navy Takes Aim At Marijuana Fields
KWTX - Sep 22, 2007
Arturo Maldonado Orozco, of the 8th regional Navy in Acapulco, said 800 troops began an operation to destroy the fields, some of which were found 14 miles from Zihuatanejo, a city well-known by foreign tourists to nearby Acapulco. if (self['plpm'] && plpm['Mid-Story Ad']) document. write(plpm['Mid-Story Ad']);} else { if(self['plurp'] && plurp['97']){} else {document… Authorities say marijuana fields are usually found in mountainous areas or mixed in with other plants, while it is rare to find them near beaches, which is why the Mexican Navy had started to work in the area. Since taking office in December, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has sent 24,000 troops throughout the country to battle drug traffickers who have been fighting each other for territory over the past few years, killing thousands.
Tolkien relative ’sold drugs’
expressandstar.com - Sep 22, 2007
Piers Crombleholme said he had ploughed £50,000 from the Tolkien Trust into his Hall Street business. But the 27-year-old denied he had ever sold drugs from the shop on the first day of his trial yesterday. Police found 39 cannabis plants and cannabis stuffed in jars and tins when they raided Chalkline, a knife and gun retailer, in March. The jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court was shown two sets of electric scales, smoking paraphenalia and one of nine jars full of cannabis at the shop, which were also recovered in the raid. The court heard transcripts of the interview Crombleholme gave to police following his arrest. He admitted growing and cultivating cannabis for up to two years but denied selling it in the shop… The jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court was shown two sets of electric scales, smoking paraphenalia and one of nine jars full of cannabis at the shop, which were also recovered in the raid. The court heard transcripts of the interview Crombleholme gave to police following his arrest. He admitted growing and cultivating cannabis for up to two years but denied selling it in the shop. The court heard Crombleholme had financed the business through loans from his family and from the inheritance he received from the Tolkien trust.
12 arrested in local drug sweep
Enid News & Eagle - Sep 22, 2007
Cherry The SWAT team searched a home at 324 W. Cherry and arrested Nytino Grimes, 20, and Kera Speight, 24, on complaints of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 2,000 feet of a school, possession of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor and possession of paraphernalia. Police found packaged marijuana in two rooms, digital scales, pipes, marijuana grinders, cash and other drug paraphernalia, according to a news release. The marijuana was found in areas easily accessible to children — ages 4 months, 3 years and 5 years — according to the release. Grimes is serving a five-year deferred sentence that began last week after pleading guilty to possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of drug paraphernalia. Speight began a five-year deferred sentence in May after pleading guilty to possession of controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of paraphernalia. 3130 DwellePolice served another warrant at 3130 Dwelle and arrested Stephanie Chadwick, 35, and Rodney Chitsey, 35Chadwick was arrested on complaints of possession of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor child, possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of paraphernalia… Cherry and arrested Nytino Grimes, 20, and Kera Speight, 24, on complaints of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 2,000 feet of a school, possession of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor and possession of paraphernalia. Police found packaged marijuana in two rooms, digital scales, pipes, marijuana grinders, cash and other drug paraphernalia, according to a news release. The marijuana was found in areas easily accessible to children — ages 4 months, 3 years and 5 years — according to the release. Grimes is serving a five-year deferred sentence that began last week after pleading guilty to possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of drug paraphernalia. Speight began a five-year deferred sentence in May after pleading guilty to possession of controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of paraphernalia. 3130 DwellePolice served another warrant at 3130 Dwelle and arrested Stephanie Chadwick, 35, and Rodney Chitsey, 35Chadwick was arrested on complaints of possession of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor child, possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession of paraphernalia. Chitsey was arrested for possession of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor child and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Elk Grove real estate agent linked to nearly half of 21 pot homes
OCRegister - Sep 22, 2007
She owned two of the houses and sold another eight while working at Elite Realty of Elk Grove, according to Metrolist Services. Hoang was one of 15 people arrested in the raids, which followed a 10-month investigation. Police seized 6,855 marijuana plants, 36 pounds of processed marijuana, more than $200,000 in cash and 10 vehicles. Elk Grove Police spokesman Christopher Trim said all 21 homes were connected, but he declined to reveal details. “We’re fairly confident the homes that we’ve uncovered are the end (of this network),” Trim told The Sacramento Bee. Hoang left Elite Realty more than a month ago, said former co-worker Gus Chaveste who described Hoang as “very nice, humble lady. ” “It was a big shocker to us,” Chaveste said… It wasn’t immediately clear if Hoang had a lawyer. Messages left with the Elk Grove police and the district attorney’s office weren’t immediately returned. Marijuana growers have been buying suburban homes – many in newer developments – because of the anonymity the drug dealers believe the neighborhoods afford. But unlike indoor pot growers arrested last year, the people involved in this week’s raid took extra steps to hide the marijuana from neighbors. They furnished the downstairs of the homes, only grew the marijuana plants on the second floor and lived part time in the houses, Trim said. The houses found last year often had unkempt yards and covered windows that drew neighbors’ attention.