Members of the Unified Narcotic Enforcement Team (UNET) conducted a drug bust last Friday at an illegal cannabis cultivation operation on property owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
On September 15, members of UNET, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and BLM followed up on information regarding a suspected cultivation operation in southern San Benito County.
Law enforcement eradicated around 2,000 cannabis plants that ranged from three-feet to 14-feet tall. Officers seized five and a half pounds of processed and packaged cannabis, a scale, packing material and .45 caliber ammunition.
While searching the multi-acre grow, officers engaged in a foot pursuit with two Hispanic males. Elizandro Hernandez Alvarado was contacted and detained, while the second suspect fled through brush and terrain. Hernandez Alvarado was booked in the San Benito County Jail.
A loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun was pitched and located during the pursuit. The firearm was found loaded, ready to fire and reported to be stolen out of the Los Angeles, CA area.
Several environmental crimes were witnessed, including the diverting of a waterway, polluting and possession of hazardous substances. It’s estimated there was around 2,000 pounds of waste, containers and garbage found throughout the grow location.
