SAN LEANDRO — An investigation into a suspected illegal marijuana cultivation and sales operation resulted in the seizure of about 300 pounds of processed marijuana, some hashish, cash and other items during a Wednesday raid at a home where a resident was arrested, police said Thursday.
The total estimated value of the marijuana was not released.
The raid at the home in the 1200 block of Vistagrand Drive, which is north of Interstate 580 in the Bay-O-Vista district, was the result of a community tip regarding suspicious activity observed at the home, police said.
Detectives from the Crime Suppression and Property Crimes Unit contacted a resident and two other subjects associated with the home on Wednesday and were able to develop probable cause to obtain a search warrant for the home, police said in a news release. Police did not specify the exact nature of that probable cause.
The search warrant culminated in the recovery of around 300 pounds of processed marijuana packaged in 1-pound bags, around six pounds of suspected tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, which is used in the converting process, over half a pound of concentrated cannabis (hashish), scales, packaging material, money counting machines, and over $10,000 in cash, police said.
Police did not say if the marijuana was being sold out of the home or being delivered elsewhere.
The primary resident of the home, a 43-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of unlicensed possession of marijuana for sale. He was later cited out of Santa Rita Jail.
Police said in the release that “While the use, cultivation, and sale of marijuana have been legalized in California, unlicensed large-scale cultivation and sales operations are still illegal. In addition to being a nuisance and contributing to blight within a neighborhood, these illicit residential cultivation operations are often targeted by burglaries, robberies, or other violent crimes.”
The release said community members are encouraged to contact the San Leandro Police Department to report suspected criminal activity via the non-emergency phone number: 510-577-2740, their anonymous tip line, 510-577-3278, or by using text-to-tip at 888777 (keyword: TipSLPolice).
Staff writer Rick Hurd contributed to this report.
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