Local drug enforcement authorities recovered an estimated 25,000 marijuana plants hidden in legal row crops on a property just outside Hollister.
County sheriff’s deputies, the United Narcotics Enforcement Team, Morgan Hill police and California Fish & Game partnered in the discovery and arrest of five suspects on the property in the 8000 block of Lover’s Lane, according to an announcement from the sheriff’s office.
At about 8:15 a.m. last Tuesday, authorities executed a search warrant at the residence on the property and arrested the suspects after they ran from police. Those suspects include Abundio Marian-Riano, 25, Claudio Alvarado Carrillo, 27, Angel Valdovinos-Medina, 35, Hermes Quinares Solano, 31, and Arcario Valention Gerardo, 27, according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities estimated the potential street value of the marijuana at $50 million.
UNET is made up of members from the California Department of Justice, the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, the Gilroy Police Department, the Morgan Hill Police Department, the San Benito County Probation Department, the Hollister Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
