Crime & Safety
NSIB Agents Arrest 5 in Connection With Major Pot-Growing Operation
Napa Special Investigations Bureau Agents Seize 585 Pounds of Pot, 2 Guns, $7,000 Cash.
Five people were arrested Wednesday by Napa Special Investigation Bureau agents in connection with a large-scale commercial marijuana growing operation in the Walter Peaks area of Pope Valley on the Napa Land Trust Preserve.
Agents arrested one Oakland man and four male transients from Mexico at a residence in the 1000 block of Leddy Avenue, Santa Rosa.
Agents executed a search warrant at the residence and seized approximately 585 pounds of processed marijuana, two handguns and over $7,000 in suspected drug proceeds, said NSIB Lt. Gary Pitkin.
Suspects arrested, and their charges, were:
--Abel Caballero Perez, 36, transient from Mexico, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed in the commission of a felony
--Javier Caballero Perez, 42, transient from Mexico, possession of marijuana for sale
--Marvin Garcia, 22, of Oakland, possession of marijuana for sale
--Crisanto Guevara, 23, transient from Mexico, poss. of marijuana for sale
--Victor Farias, 27, transient from Mexico possession of marijuana for sale
The five suspects were booked into Sonoma County Jail, Pitkin said. The five arrestees were also being held on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected, he added.
Pitkin said NSIB agents began the investigation into the large-scale commercial marijuana growing operation in August.
On Aug. 7, with the assistance of the California Department of Justice’s Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) program, NSIB eradicated several hundred marijuana plants. During the eradication, etectives found hillsides had been altered, trees and shrubs cut, fertilizer strewn about and a spring dammed up.
The water from the spring had been diverted and exclusively used to water the marijuana plants. Detectives also located a campsite with garbage littering the area adjacent to the spring.
Detectives sifted through the grow site and camp site in an effort to identify those responsible and ultimately recovered a small piece of evidence (intentionally vague to protect the NSIB's investigative means).
Following up on the item of evidence, detectives served several search warrants in an effort to identify members of the drug trafficking organization responsible. Additional investigative leads were developed which pointed to a residence in Santa Rosa.
On Wednesday, NSIB detectives went to a residence in the 1000 block of Leddy Avenue, Santa Rosa in an effort identify the marijuana growers and criminal support structure of the organization.
On arrival, detectives smelled a strong odor of cultivated marijuana and contacted several individuals outside of the residence. Detectives subsequently froze the residence and obtained a search warrant, Pitkin said.
As a result of the search warrant, the above drugs, guns and cash were seized and the five suspects arrested.
Residents are encouraged to call NSIB with information or complaints related to illicit drug use, sales, cultivation, or manufacturing at 253-4458 or our NSIB Drug Hotline at 224-DRUG (3784). Callers can remain anonymous.
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