Suspects sought in open space pot grows

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department is looking for information that might lead them to the individuals behind several marijuana farming operations unearthed over the last week.

Between September 24 and 25, deputies on the Narcotics Task Force found and destroyed over 8,500 cannabis plants at three locations in Ramona, Fallbrook, and Vista. On October 2, 354 plants were discovered in Ramona. Yesterday (October 3), deputies “served a search warrant on an open space area” in the Gopher Canyon area east of Vista, confiscating another 8,000 plants while locating an illegal camping and dumping ground apparently used by an on-site caretaker.

The seized plants have an estimated value of $4.6 million according to authorities, with an unknown sum of damage having been done to the local environment by growers at the site.

Individuals wishing to volunteer information that could lead to arrest (and the customary $1000 reward) are encouraged to contact the non-emergency Sheriff’s line at (858)565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (866) 580-8477.