Major Pot Busts in San Francisco
Police seized about 100 pounds of dried marijuana and another 100 marijuana plants at two apartments in San Francisco's Laurel Heights neighborhood Monday night, and found even more of the drug in the city's Richmond District Tuesday morning.
The arrests and marijuana seizure were the result of a weeks-long investigation that culminated when officers served a search warrant at an apartment at 3306 California St. around 5 p.m., San Francisco police Officer Samson Chan said.
The investigation continued throughout the night, culminating in a bust in the Richmond at the 500 block of 43rd Avenue.
During the search of 3306 California St., police also discovered marijuana in 3302, located in the same two-story, eight-unit building at the corner of Walnut Street, San Francisco police Sgt. Chris Breen said.
Officers arrested two men during the search. One of the men was taken out of the apartment building, handcuffed, around 10 p.m. and placed into a police car.
The strong odor of marijuana lingered in the air as officers removed the plants and equipment, including lights and fans, and placed the items into two pickup trucks parked outside after the man was taken into custody.
Neighbors walking their dogs or coming home with bags of groceries stopped to watch but none stayed long. Two neighbors, who said they live in the building next door, said they were surprised to learn marijuana was growing on their block.
The building's garage remained open throughout the removal, displaying large ducting along the ceiling.
Chan said the street value of the marijuana seized was about $350,000.
"It was a criminal enterprise," he said, adding that it appeared the suspects had tried to dispose of some of the marijuana when police initially arrived. The investigation is ongoing.
