Crime & Safety
Eight Months Later, Still No Arrests in Large Marijuana Bust in Beaumont
A representative from the Drug Enforcement Administration says no arrests have been made in a Nov. 2012 marijuana operation shut-down.
More than eight months after federal authorities raided a Beaumont warehouse and seized an estimated $1.2 million in marijuana plants, no one has been arrested in the case, authorities tell Patch.
The operation was shuttered on Nov. 14, 2012, when hundreds of plants were seized after a search warrant was served at a warehouse in an industrial complex on Maple Avenue and 3rd Street, according to DEA spokeswoman Sarah Pullen.
"As a result of the search warrant approximately 600 marijuana plants from a sophisticated marijuana growing operation were seized," Pullen told Patch in November.
Witnesses who saw the seizure take place, described a scene of dozens of law enforcement personnel swarming in on the location, and carrying out plant after plant-- and witnessed several "high tech" looking pieces of watering and lighting equipment inside the warehouse.
At the time, no one was arrested, and authorities said they were investigating.
Since then, Banning-Beaumont Patch has followed up regulary to check on the status of this case. As of July 11, when we last checked in with the DEA, we were told the case is still "on-going," and that there is no time frame as to when-- or if-- any arrests will be made.
The value of the seizure was estimated at $1.2 million since each plant normally yields one pound of marijuana, and $2,000 per pound is a "lowball figure," Pullen told Patch in November.
What do YOU think? Should arrests have been made by now? Or do you think the DEA needs more time to build their case? Tell us in the comments.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
