Crime & Safety
Sheriff’s Department Clears Out 8,000 Marijuana Plants Near Temecula
Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman Sarah Pullen said her agents were on hand during the effort in De Luz but were only assisting the sheriff's department with the case.
A Riverside County Sheriff’s Department helicopter buzzing over Temecula Thursday morning was the result of a marijuana eradication effort in De Luz, according to officials.
Search warrants were obtained for the private land and police confiscated nearly 8,000 plants and 80 pounds of finished marijuana, with "a total value of several million dollars," according to McConnell.
No arrests were made, she said.
Patch readers reported seeing the sheriff’s chopper overhead carrying loads of “foliage” around 8:30 a.m.
The helicopter was flying to and from a "bright green patch on the side of the mountain, coming back with a huge bundle ...," according to one report.
Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Police remained quiet through the morning about where in the small foothill community the effort was taking place, whether there were arrests, and how much pot was confiscated.
“They were removing marijuana plants from a property in De Luz,” is what McConnell divulged Thursday morning.
Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Several vehicles were parked at De Luz and Rancho California roads this morning, including one marked law enforcement car, according to a witness account.
Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman Sarah Pullen said her agents were on hand during the effort but were only assisting the sheriff’s department with the case.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
