In Benicia: Investigators Bust Pricey Pot Grow on East Second Street

Detectives found $90,000 of processed marijuana and about $2.5 million worth of marijuana plants at a grow operation in Benicia Monday, sheriff’s officials said.

Just before 7 p.m., the Solano County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team served a search warrant and searched a building in the 4600 block of East Second Street, according to sheriff’s officials.

When they entered the building they found about 30 pounds of processed marijuana and about 825 marijuana plants, sheriff’s officials said.

The discovering of the operation began about 3 p.m. Monday when Benicia police officer Armondo Sanchez got a tip about the possibility of narcotics activity in the area, according to sheriff’s officials. The tip also said utilities were being stolen.

Sheriff’s officials said Sanchez’s investigation led him to the building on East Second Street where he smelled the odor of marijuana.

A PG&E representative confirmed with Sanchez that utilities were being stolen at the site, sheriff’s officials said. Sheriff’s officials said Benicia Police Department officials then got in touch with the county’s narcotics team while police watched the area.

When detectives entered the building they did not find any suspects, but found a growing operation, according to sheriff’s officials. Sheriff’s officials said three rooms in the building were designed to grow marijuana in different stages and a fourth room was for drying.

Anyone with information about the case is being asked to call the Solano County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 421-7090. People may call anonymously at (707) 644-7867.

--Bay City News

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