Kern County Sheriff’s Office – Public Information Officer
On August 6, 2024, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (KC-HIDTA), executed a search warrant on an illegal underground marijuana grow operation that was discovered in the desert area north of Boron, California. Wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife/Cannabis Enforcement Program (CEP), the Eradication and Prevention of illicit Cannabis (EPIC) task force and officers from the Kern County Probation Department assisted in the execution of the search warrant and the arrests of 3 suspects found to be involved in operating the illegal marijuana grow.
During the search warrant 2 suspects attempted to flee from the underground grow operation and were quickly apprehended by assisting law enforcement personnel.
17,650 marijuana plants were eradicated from within the underground grow rooms and approximately 1,069 pounds of processed marijuana was seized. The underground operation consisted of numerous buried seatrains with a sophisticated electrical and ventilation/cooling systems operating off a large diesel-powered commercial generator.
Members of Kern County Code Compliance responded and during their investigation found numerous code violations and major safety concerns with the illegally buried marijuana grow operation. Based on the violations, the structures/outbuildings and underground seatrains on the large property were deemed unsafe for occupancy and posted by Kern County Code Compliance.
The following subjects were arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales, resisting arrest, disturbed earth, trash stockpile and illegal discharge of water related to marijuana cultivation and conspiracy to commit a crime. All subjects were transported and booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Lerdo Justice Facility.
Qingxue Zhang, (age 57) from China, CN
Siyun Cao, (age 32) from Quizo, China
Xiyyu Zou, (age 53) from China, CN
