1,300 Pounds of Marijuana Seized from Los Angeles Area Home

Local law enforcement officials seized 1,300 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $1 million. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, four men were arrested in the Ontario, California, home, which officials say was being used by a Mexican drug cartel. Agents apparently discovered about 1,200 pounds of marijuana inside two vehicles that were parked at the home. Another 100 pounds of pot were found inside the home along with scales, packaging materials and other documents that indicated that the pot was being sold. Investigators say the marijuana was grown in Mexico and was to be distributed across the United States.

A California drug offense refers to the possession, use, sale or furnishing of any drug or intoxicating substance or drug paraphernalia that is prohibited by law. Most drug offenses in the State of California are now felonies. The penalties for drug crimes in San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County or Orange County can be extremely severe. The nature or severity of the charges are usually based on the quantity of drugs seized, the intent to sell or distribute, and other factors such as use or possession of weapons, evidence that the drugs are being sold, and possession of large amounts of cash used for drug transactions. Charges also depend on a drug’s classification under the drug schedule and the purpose of the possession – whether it’s for personal use or sale.

Although the penalties for drug possession or sale are severe, frequently an accusation of drug possession is based upon an “illegal search and seizure” by law enforcement officials. If police did not follow proper procedure during their search of your property or seizure of the drugs, your case could be dismissed. A truly experienced Los Angeles criminal defense law firm such as Sitkoff & Hanrahan can successfully handle a wide range of drug crime cases from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Call us today at 866-430-8383 to schedule your free and confidential consultation.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/pot-bust.html