CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A search warrant service has resulted in the arrest of three men, and the seizure of hundreds of pounds of marijuana and nearly 400 marijuana plants.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said that on Thursday narcotics detectives executed a search warrant in the 2300 block of Ogulin Canyon Road in Clearlake at a site known as La Rosa Plaza.
The individuals arrested were 26-year-old Dagoberto Vargas Olea and 31-year-old Marvin Vera Alvarado, both of Clearlake, and 50-year-old Gilberto Fulgencio Olea-Lopez of Ukiah, Paulich said.
Detectives initiated the warrant service in the plaza at a residence with fortified doors and windows, Paulich said.
He said a male subject armed with a loaded shotgun was located inside the residence, guarding approximately 200 pounds of processed marijuana being prepared for distribution. The interior of the residence had been converted into a cultivation and processing site.
Detectives then secured a large two-story commercial building within the plaza, where they discovered a sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation commonly referred to as an “ebb and flow hydroponics system,” according to Paulich.
Paulich said the detectives determined marijuana plants were growing in various stages of maturity throughout the building to generate continuous productivity. They seized approximately 112 pounds of processed marijuana from the commercial building.
The investigation led detectives to find two more marijuana grow sites on the unimproved vacant lands of the plaza, Paulich reported.
Detectives contacted a male subject armed with a loaded rifle and pistol guarding the grows and accompanied by a vicious pit bull canine. Paulich said the detectives determined marijuana plants were being grown both outdoor and within a light deprivation green house on the vacant lands.
During the investigation a third subject arrived at the plaza transporting potted marijuana plants to the scene, Paulich said.
In total, approximately 312 pounds of processed marijuana, 393 marijuana plants and three loaded firearms were seized during the investigation, according to Paulich's report.
Paulich said personnel from the Lake County Fire Protection Department, Clearlake Code Enforcement and Lake County Animal Care and Control assisted the sheriff’s office with this investigation.
Paulich said the three men were transported to the Lake County Jail. Vargas Olea and Vera Alvarado were both booked for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales and committing a felony while armed with a firearm. Olea-Lopez was booked for cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sales.
So far this year, the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit has eradicated approximately 65,000 marijuana plants and will continue its efforts to eradicate narcotics from the communities of Lake County and seize the suspected profits of drug trafficking for asset forfeiture whenever possible, Paulich said.
Anyone with information that can assist the Sheriff's Narcotic Unit with this effort is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.