Garage Fire Leads Authorities To Pot Inside House
SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters, who put out a garage fire at a San Gabriel home, found a house full of marijuana plants.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies say 1,000 plants were found Tuesday, along with 1,000-watt lights, aluminum light fixtures, air filters and electric ballasts. They say the bathroom was filled with garbage barrels used to mix fertilizer.
No suspects have been identified, but Detective David Mertens says the operation was linked to Asian organized crime.
Neighbors say they have never seen anyone at the home.
Firefighters say the fire was caused by electrical wiring that had been rigged to bypass Southern California Edison meters.
Authorities believe marijuana has been growing in the house since October.
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