Authorities seize more than 100 pounds of marijuana and arrest three people after drug investigation

Two women and a man were behind bars and four children were in protective custody today after deputies conducted a raid in Perris and found hundreds of growing marijuana plants and more than 100 pounds of dried pot, authorities said.

A search warrant was served Thursday in the 1000 block of Warbonnett Drive as part of an investigation into illegal marijuana growing in Perris, said Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. R. Novak. Deputies seized 377 plants and about 126 pounds of dried marijuana, he said.

Four children between the ages of 4 and 11 were placed in protective custody by Child Protective Services, Novak said.

Arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, marijuana cultivation, marijuana sales and child endangerment were Adelina Torres, 38; Jaime Espindola, 44; and Yridiana Espindola, 21, according to sheriff’s online jail records.

All three suspects, who are from Perris, were booked at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, where they were each being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, with court appearances set for Monday in Riverside, according to the sheriff’s department.