8 arrested for illegal marijuana grow in Anza

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department arrested eight people — seven from out of state — after a search warrant revealed a major outdoor marijuana growing operation in Anza.

The Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served the search warrant Thursday morning on private property located off of Tripp Flats Road, deputies said in a release.

The sheriff’s department said the criminal investigation revealed indoor greenhouse-type structures. Investigators determined the suspects were illegally growing marijuana for sales.

Eight suspects were arrested and 3,505 marijuana plants were destroyed. Five of the suspects are from Wisconsin, two are from Alabama, and one is from Northern California.

All of the suspects were booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to call the Special Investigation Bureau at (951) 955-1720.