Wave Of Arrests In South Bay Marijuana Sales Crackdown
More than 20 people were arrested Thursday as part of a police crackdown on illegal marijuana sales throughout Santa Clara County, Santa Clara police officials said Friday.
In addition to arresting 22 people, officers also seized more than 25 pounds of marijuana, nine firearms, 26 high-capacity magazines, and 223 marijuana plants.
Investigators claim the suspects advertised online and in traditional publications under the guise of medicinal marijuana delivery services.
"This was just plain old drug dealing," Santa Clara police Chief Stephen Lodge said in a statement. "Those arrested have perverted the important role of a caregiver for seriously ill patients for their own financial gain."
Lodge said the use of marijuana for non-medicinal purposes, as well as cultivation, distribution, and sale of marijuana, is illegal and offenders will be arrested and prosecuted.
Participating law enforcement agencies in the investigation included the Santa Clara, San Jose, Gilroy, Campbell, Mountain View, Milpitas and Los Gatos police departments, the state's attorney general's office and Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Clara County Probation Department and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.
