Ten people accused in a drug trafficking operation spread throughout the Inland Empire and other parts of Southern California were arrested today during a sweep by local and federal authorities, who also seized thousands of marijuana plants.
(Flickr: pena)
Augustine Bazan Camacho, 41, of Pomona, Ken Ho, 33, of Arcadia, Raymond Lam, 42, of Arcadia, Simon Lam, 32, of Arcadia, Steven Huytu Lam, 52, of Walnut, Luc Kai Phoung, 50, of Rosemead, Thanh Van Phu, 33, of El Monte, Li Ya Si, 42, of Temple City, Phieu Tran, 35, of El Monte and San S. Voong, 33, of Arcadia were taken into custody without incident, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to federal prosecutors, the defendants and another man still at large — Andy Tran, 39, of Monterey Park — ran a multi-city marijuana growing operation that at its peak saw the cultivation of more than 15,000 marijuana plants in 15 houses that were converted into indoor pot farms.
Personnel with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the IRS, U.S. Marshals Service, Los Angeles Police Department and other agencies took part in today’s raids
Prosecutors allege Raymond Lam was the ring leader, with the other defendants performing various roles, including plant tenders, technicians and enforcers.
Lam was generally the one signing the leases or making outright purchases of single-family homes used by the organization, according to court papers.
The marijuana grows all relied on hydroponic equipment and electricity that was illegally acquired through sophisticated wiring that bypassed utility meters, prosecutors said.
The search warrants executed today targeted 26 locations in Arcadia, Chino, Corona, Diamond Bar, Eastvale, El Monte, Fontana, Los Angeles, Monterey Park, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Temple City and Walnut.
Authorities seized 8,000 marijuana plants, seven firearms and more than $250,000 cash, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In previous raids over the last two years tied to the same investigation, law enforcement personnel seized 15,000 cannabis plants and 1,000 pounds of harvested weed, prosecutors said.
The conspirators each face life, or a minimum of 10 years, behind bars if convicted.
They’re slated to make their initial court appearances this afternoon at U.S. District Court in downtown Riverside.
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Was this in the US? Names sound like the story should be from Korea. Imported crime at it’s best. I wonder what would happen to these fools in their home country?
D-M0…..In their country they would face harsh punishment , here they usually are rewarded w/ short jail time (Brown doesn’t count druggies as dangerous) a warning to stop being naughty and maybe a fine!
WHY DON’T THEY ARREST TABACCO MFGS. THEIR WEEDS ARE KILLING MORE PEOPLE OVER CENTURIES. CIGARETTES, CIGARS, PIPES YOU NAME ARE JUST AS DANGEROUS, AND SO IS ALCOHOL. I GUESS A PERSON CAN ABUSE ANYTHING.
“U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the IRS, U.S. Marshals Service, Los Angeles Police Department”
Thank you for a spectacular job and keep up the good work.!!!
Unfortunately with so many illegals coming into the country, or already here its a tough job tracking down all these people and getting to the head guys. The ones sitting in the huge glass office on the 25th floor of an office in Beverly Hills.
If we worked at getting all illegals out of our country, from all countries, nationalities, our problems would be decreased and the drug lords would NOT have as many employees doing their dirty work.
When you see the busts on TV you find a rented/bought home filled with illegals packing up the drugs for its next stop on the “train”, then the next stop you find more illegals and so on and so on until it gets into some 15 yr old kids hands to sell all over town from his bike.
You all have a voice, those listed above, and know what should be the priority “catch and deport” and its the illegals swimming it up the rivers, bringing it in in tractor trailers, big SUV’s, rat trap ole cars, anything to try to throw you off.
Lets get the National Guard, who would love a post or active job of some kind, to work with police to get the illegals OUT, then there wont be as much drugs coming in to track down.
poor grandma you watch to much tv this has nothing to do with race its about Money .when something is illegal such as drugs their is plenty of money to be made and it all races involved your just racist so you do not see the picture it tskes alot of people to getvthe train rolling all colors so give it up with the illegals are to blame