FruityBud
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Police broke up one of the largest marijuana growing operations they've seen in recent years, raiding three homes Wednesday night and seizing more than $225,000 cash, arresting four people and confiscating $60,000 worth of marijuana.
It was a bust that extended to Mendocino County where some of the marijuana was grown. Police said the suspected ringleader, Theodore Cristos, 29. grew marijuana on property he owns in Mendocino County and at a house in the Oakland hills where 151 young plants were seized at a house Cristos owns in the 500 block of Crestmont Drive.
Oakland Police Sgt. Oritz said all the marijuana transactions were made at a house in the 1000 block of 56th Street in North Oakland. Cristos kept records of his sales at his home in the 3500 block of Harrison St.
Sgt. Ortiz, who supervises Problem-Solving Officer Unit 2, said the investigation started a few months ago, based on information developed by the unit's Officers Ercivan Martin and Marcel Patterson. They discovered that Cristos was distributing huge amounts of marijuana. Surveillance led to the raids Wednesday night at the three Oakland sites.
Ortiz said Cristos was arrested at the 56th Street residence as he sold 15 pounds of harvested marijuana to a man who turned out to be wanted on criminal charges in Florida. He was identified as Daniel Bradien, 32.
Police also arrested two men at the grow site on Crestmont. Their names were not immediately released. Police also found a revolver at the Crestmont house.
Police believe Cristos was selling the marijuana for at least $2,000 a pound.
Sgt. Ortiz said Cristos had been "rolling underneath the radar" for some time. Cristos was arrested on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, possession for sale and for sales of marijuana.
Oakland police have also contacted the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. That agency is expected to take over the case.
The grow site on Crestmont was very sophisticated, with the latest watering and lighting technology. But the plants were basically seedlings, police said.. Ortiz believes the pot being sold was grown in Mendocino. Authorities in Mendocino have also been contacted.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/697cy7
It was a bust that extended to Mendocino County where some of the marijuana was grown. Police said the suspected ringleader, Theodore Cristos, 29. grew marijuana on property he owns in Mendocino County and at a house in the Oakland hills where 151 young plants were seized at a house Cristos owns in the 500 block of Crestmont Drive.
Oakland Police Sgt. Oritz said all the marijuana transactions were made at a house in the 1000 block of 56th Street in North Oakland. Cristos kept records of his sales at his home in the 3500 block of Harrison St.
Sgt. Ortiz, who supervises Problem-Solving Officer Unit 2, said the investigation started a few months ago, based on information developed by the unit's Officers Ercivan Martin and Marcel Patterson. They discovered that Cristos was distributing huge amounts of marijuana. Surveillance led to the raids Wednesday night at the three Oakland sites.
Ortiz said Cristos was arrested at the 56th Street residence as he sold 15 pounds of harvested marijuana to a man who turned out to be wanted on criminal charges in Florida. He was identified as Daniel Bradien, 32.
Police also arrested two men at the grow site on Crestmont. Their names were not immediately released. Police also found a revolver at the Crestmont house.
Police believe Cristos was selling the marijuana for at least $2,000 a pound.
Sgt. Ortiz said Cristos had been "rolling underneath the radar" for some time. Cristos was arrested on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, possession for sale and for sales of marijuana.
Oakland police have also contacted the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. That agency is expected to take over the case.
The grow site on Crestmont was very sophisticated, with the latest watering and lighting technology. But the plants were basically seedlings, police said.. Ortiz believes the pot being sold was grown in Mendocino. Authorities in Mendocino have also been contacted.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/697cy7
