The Butte County Sheriff's office has raided two more major pot grows, intercepting millions of dollars worth of illegal marijuana from reaching the streets.
The first bust came Thursday when detectives received information from the Maryland State Police that Chico resident, Wolfgang Obergin, 22 was arrested for the transportation and sale of marijuana in that state.
Investigator say that arrest led to a search warrant of several industrial units in the 2900 block of Highway 32 in Chico, by Detectives of the Sheriff Office's Special Enforcement Unit. There detectives located three indoor marijuana grows located within the industrial units. A total of 252 marijuana plants were eradicated from the indoor grow rooms. Detectives estimated the street value of the marijuana to be $252,000.00.
Obergin, who remains in custody in Maryland, faces additional cultivation and sales charges in Butte County.
A day later, detectives searched property at the 500 block of Hurleton Swedes Flat Road, Oroville. First they came in contact with Dai Van Le, 37 of Pleasant Hill inside a home on the property. Then they found reveal two greenhouses containing 470 marijuana plants. Detectives estimated the street value of the marijuana plants at $2,820,000. One of the greenhouses was approximately 50' and 20' and held 350 of the 470 marijuana plants.
The greenhouses were equipped with several thousand dollars of cultivation equipment. Three inactive large indoor marijuana grow rooms were also located on the property and contained growing equipment in the tens of thousands of dollars. The indoor marijuana grow room equipment had been powered by a $30,000.00 industrial generator, which was located on the property. Dai Van Le was arrested for the cultivation and sales of marijuana. He is currently in custody at the Butte County Jail with a bail amount of $100,000.00
