On September 28, 2016, at approximately 0700 hours, agents with the Tri County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), and Placer County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at a residence in the Pleasant Grove area of Western Placer County.  The search warrant was issued in regards to several large outdoor marijuana cultivation operations on the property.  TRIDENT eradicated and seized a total of 3,901 marijuana plants under cultivation in different stages of growth with a total weight of 10,840 pounds, approximately 10,000 pounds of raw marijuana, 703 pounds of processed marijuana, and one Glock .40 caliber handgun with a high capacity magazine.  The value of the marijuana seized is estimated at over $3,000,000.  Twenty-four suspects are residents from the Fresno area were detained for questioning. Three suspects were arrested.

The Placer District Attorney’s Office has filed a criminal complaint against Boun Ly, Trung Trang, and Joshua Her charging them with multiple counts of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale.  Her was charged with possession of a loaded firearm by a felon. It is also alleged that Ly has a prior strike under California’s Three Strikes law.  Mr. Ly has pled not guilty and is currently in custody. His bail is set at $50,000. His next court date is October 4th 2016 in Department 13 the Placer County Superior Court.  Her and Trang posted $65,000 bail and are scheduled to be arraigned in Department 31 of the Placer County Superior Court on November 7, 2016.

District Attorney Scott Owens commented on the seizure pointing out that he has been warning our County of the efforts of the commercial marijuana industry trying to invade our County. This is clear evidence of that effort. Our office remains committed in assuring that their efforts fail.  I am proud that Placer County has taken the position against allowing this mind altering substance to degrade our community and its environment, and for not falling prey to the phony promises of potential revenue generation as a justification for allowing marijuana grow operations such as this one to exist in our County.

TRIDENT Commander Brandon Olivera said that this marijuana grow operation was one of the largest marijuana operations he has seen in Placer County.  This operation was a sophisticated marijuana operation that clearly was growing marijuana not just to be marketed in our County, but throughout California.  Olivera also expressed his gratitude for the support of all the participating agencies of TRIDENT, as well as, other law enforcement agencies involved in the execution of the search warrant including the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspectors, Placer County Special Investigations Unit, Yuba-Sutter Net5 Narcotics Task Force and the Placer County Code Enforcement.

TRIDENT is a federally supported task force that is comprised of agents from the El Dorado County Sherriff’s Department, Auburn Police Department, Rocklin Police Department, Placer County Sheriff’s Department, Placer County District Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Homeland Security, Bureau of Land Management, and California National Guard.