Amid California's ongoing drought, drug cartels have been stealing millions of gallons of water a day to feed illegal marijuana grows in the Antelope Valley, officials said. . [11] and after about 7 years realized it was way too small. ALL PRICES INCLUDE ALL TAXES!!! Illegal growers also play a part in our states concerning crime trends, as grows are highly lucrative, and the states increasingly soft-on-crime policies guarantee no more than a slap on the wrist before prosecuted growers are sent back to their still-intact operations. Marijuana | The AV Times LLC. Sheriff Villanueva expressed additional concern over the cannabis farms, saying the cartel sites were allegedly linked to two 2020 murders in the area. Last month, L.A. County Supervisor Katheryn Barger said she was working to enhance penalties for those who operate the illegal grows. ft. would last us well into the future. But the growers do not stop there. Garcia and Carter took a helicopter tour of the illegal grows, which have expanded exponentially since Garcia took a tour of the grows . Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. At least 16 tons of the processed drug and more than 33,000 marijuana plants were airlifted to remote sites and burned. On Tuesday, May 4th, 2021, a suspect was taken into custody for the illegal cultivation of marijuana during these warrant services. Legalization has pushed them to the brink, Antioch approves wholesale cannabis distribution in north Antioch, Cannabis dispensary burglary suspects arrested in Pacifica, People can now buy marijuana from a vending machine in Colorado (yes, really). Illegal pot growing operations in the Antelope Valley are now an international cartel issue, according to Congressman Mike Garcia. Lashes & lippie from my collab dropping Thursday . We started this process months back when we were starting to get lots of complaints from residents here in the High Desert.'. Bookstore. For more on efforts to stop illegal marijuana grows in the Antelope Valley, watch the video above. "This is a threat on so many different . The California Aqueduct flows right through the Antelope Valley. The presence of cartels also often leads to violence in communities. We would document the drug cartel activity, whether . As a result of information received through public calls for service, and the office of Supervisor Barger, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department deputies assigned to Community Partnerships Bureau (COPS) served two search warrants in the Fort Tejon area of Palmdale targeting some of these illegal operations. Everybody just took off into the desert running when we showed up.. The Antelope Valley is a region of Los Angeles County containing 13 neighborhoods cataloged by Mapping L.A., the Los Angeles Times' resource for boundaries, demographics, schools and news within the city. Gwendolyn Sims is a freelance contributor to PJMedia where she covers current news, politics, and culture. Click here to log out. Sadly, even several hundred miles of separation have provided the residents no protection from Bidens broken border policies. visits, delivers nearly 4,500 babies, conducts 7,500 surgeries, receives One case in point is Californias Antelope Valley. Enough is enough. Villanueva said that in 2020, sheriff's detectives identified 150 illegal marijuana grows in the area, and the number increased this year to more than 500. Master negatives are available for duplication from: California Newspaper Microfilm . This includes personalizing content and advertising. Valuations of illnesses ranged from $52 for an asthma episode to $440,000 for a case of chronic bronchitis. Rosamond is a unincorporated community in Kern County, California, US, near the Los Angeles county line. Marijuana | The cartels use grow kits consisting of plywood, plastic, wire and tarp to construct the tent and an above-ground pool to mix chemicals. Antelope Acres is located in the Antelope Valley, the high desert area of northern Los Angeles County, approximately 13 miles (21 kilometers) from downtown Lancaster and 64 mi (103 km) from downtown Los Angeles. Opinion | Sheriff Villanueva emphasized that their days in the area were over, sending a loud and clear message to all the cartels . A massive law-enforcement crackdown on illegal marijuana-grow operations in the Antelope Valley last month resulted in more than 130 arrests and the seizure of marijuana with a street value of more than $1.19 billion, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday. All of them, the sheriff said, were captured. Many have been trafficked here with false promises of legitimate employment, but instead live in constant fear. Sharing a space with heavily armed, violent, volatile drug traffickers is dangerous, and these criminals do not hesitate to threaten and intimidate anyone who impedes their operations. This issue is plaguing the Antelope Valley and has the potential to spread throughout Los Angeles County, Barger said. Ventura ultimately urged Gov. Officially made up of thirteen cities and many other sparsely populated areas, the Antelope Valley is located in the high desert of northern Los Angeles County. The table below estimates the death and illness attributable to the Antelope Valley Station. Amid California's ongoing drought, drug cartels have been stealing 2-3 million gallons of water a day to feed illegal marijuana grows in the Antelope Valley, officials said. Violent crime is part of the trade for the cartels and has been associated with these illegal grows, Sheriff Villanueva said. You can learn more about Scott by visiting his website. "We're seeing towns in Southern California like the Antelope Valley and in East Lancaster, which are 300 miles away from the border, have a human smuggling trafficking problem," said Ventura. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? AVTA North County TRANSporter bus provides additional service between Santa Clarita (at Newhall Station) and Palmdale . They certainly dont treat it as a crisis impacting everyday Americans because its, you know, at the border. As this continues with these cartels [they] are actually taking [the communities] over and turning them into ghost towns, Ventura said in the documentary. Los Angeles sheriffs report that serious crime is on the rise in many of those places in Los Angeles County as well. Populated by different cultures for an estimated 11,000 years, the Antelope Valley was a trade route for Native Americans traveling from Arizona and New Mexico to California's coast. Illegal pot growing operations in the Antelope Valley are now an international cartel issue, according to Congressman Mike Garcia. We didnt meet any resistance at all, Villanueva said. FoxNews investigative reporter Sara Carter and Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) recently toured the massive cartel-linked illegal marijuana grows that are springing up daily in the eastern valley: Not only are these grows illegal, theyre dangerous too. Opinion | 15 posted on 11/20/2021 5:19:54 AM PST by Gen.Blather (Wait . Similar illegal marijuana grow operations are spread across California's 8 th District, with a particularly high concentration in the Morongo Basin and Lucerne Valley. We must send a strong message that their criminal activity wont be tolerated any longer. In a special "Hannity" investigation, investigative journalist Sara Carter traveled to the Antelope Valley around Lancaster, Calif., where - hundreds of miles away from the Mexican border - the Biden's border policies are starkly affecting everyday Americans as cartel-linked marijuana growing operations have become a criminal plague. Health Center. Over 200 locations were served with search warrants, while 375,000 marijuana plants and 33,000 pounds of harvested marijuana were seized. / KCAL News. It only takes one of them to cut a deal, Man found shot to death in Lancaster [UPDATE: Victim IDd], Woman found dead in Lancaster garage identified, SoCalGas says reliefs on way from sky-high bills. State School ID: CA-1964246-1930213. Antelope Valley Harley-Davidson is Harley-Davidson dealership located in Lancaster, CA. Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the P3 MOBILE APP on Google Play or the App Store or use the websitehttp://lacrimestoppers.org. An interview with author Rod Gragg about his latest book. Hillsides turn orange, purple, and yellow several weeks after the rain as the native flowers bloom. Campus Programming. What I thought was my "second choice" ended up being an amazing, wonderful experience. In choosing where to live, affordability is always an essential factor to consider. "For those of you who voted for Prop 47 thinking there was going to be a legalized and controlled and regulated market, it didn't happen," Villanueva said. Agents took away 180 animals, including five puppies. Half Oz & Oz Deals! Marijuana | In March, Joe Biden vaguely told reporters hed visit the southern border at some point, but he has yet to make the trip. The investigative reporter also called on President Joe Biden to tighten enforcement at the southern border, which would lower the cartels source of labor. A Google Maps Street View image shows 116th Street East in the Antelope Valley. Carter said she was stunned to see alleged cartels operations out in the open. ", Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the cartels are "stealing water in the middle of the night from the farmers.". In June, his deputies, along with U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and National Guard troops, who helped with logistics and provided vehicles, descended on the 205 farms over about a week. Career Education and Community Engagement (CECE) Children's Center. We also offer service, and financing near the areas of San Diego, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and Santa Francisco. The grow kits allow the greenhouses to be built in a matter of days. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. over 130,000 ER visits, treats 1,300 traumas, cares for 1,145 pediatric You may opt out at anytime. Over 500 local, state, and federal personnel were involved in the major bust in the Antelope Valley with over 200 warrants served. Over the year, the sheriff said, the farms stole 150 million gallons of water from nearby commercial farms or directly from pumps connected to underground sources in the drought-stricken Antelope Valley. There are two stops in the valley: the Palmdale Transportation Center, which is the area's principal transit hub, and Lancaster, which is the end of the line. Sound on repeat . LANCASTER - Law enforcement authorities cleared numerous illegal marijuana grow locations in the Antelope Valley Tuesday in what the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deemed "the largest operation ever to take place in the history of LASD.". Courtesy Office of Mike Garcia. Below, you'll find our address and hours, parking and transportation information, and the other health services we offer at our Antelope Valley VA Clinic in Lancaster. Kamala Harris has also neglected to visit the border even as Biden tasked her with stemming the so-called surge of migration there. "They have become extremely more brazen," Carter said. Due to the fact these operations were being conducted on public lands, members of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were also present. She said many local residents did not want to appear on camera. I felt that Americans living in these towns needed a voice on this story.. Graduate Student Center. Ventura has also been covering immigration at the Texas border for the past several months. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said her office received reports of apparent cartel members going on other peoples property, taking over the property and threatening their lives if they try to interfere. a 911 call reveal the horror of six family members who were killed in what a Central California sheriff described as cartel-style executions last month. Register to let other graduates of Antelope Valley High School find . The two visited "miles and miles of warehouses and fields that stood as testaments to President Biden's border policy failures. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [emailprotected]. Thank you The cartels are essentially making them work these grows and tend these grows so that they can get their citizenship, or whatever the trade is, Dicus said. Moderators say: Weve never, Wow people dont know why she was seeking shelter before they just start shooting innocent people, They are all running scared in Lancaster. A team of federal drug enforcement agents, Fish & Wildlife personnel, and Los Angeles County authorities conducted seven raids on illegal marijuana grows in the Antelope Valley this month. SpouseParentChildSiblingFamily memberOther, Sweet James has my permission to help provide a free police report, Ciel Spa aka @CielSpaBH located the SLS Hotel i, Welcoming over 100,000 people every year, what beg, The holiday season is a time of giving! The proliferation of illegal Marijuana cultivation operations throughout the high desert area has become an ever-growing problem in the Antelope Valley. Federal agents and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies took down 205 illegal cannabis farms operating in the Antelope Valley last month, officials said, snagging $1.2 billion in illegal . The operations also steal water from the communities water supply using trucks, Ventura said. The LA County Sheriff's Department, with the DEA, U.S. Army and others, is raiding hundreds of illegal marijuana grows that officials say are related to Mexican cartels. Theyre on our freeways, in our restaurants, service stations, and other businesses along the route from the Mexican border. East Bay resident accused by feds of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it "Some of those need to involve prison and jail.". Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. The grow operations are lucrative, often yielding close to a million dollars, making the reward outweigh the risk for many people. Cartelville, USA Exposes Illegal Drug Cartels Taking Over Small California Towns. The Antelope Valley Line begins at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and runs many times daily. By contrast, numerous Republican members of Congress have visited sections of our border, as PJMedia reported here and here. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. Antelope Valley High School Alumni Class List. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The cartels also smuggle undocumented migrants, often minors, from Mexico to work on the operations. Villanueva added that cartel members were stealing water from local farmers, forcing many of them out of business. Carter told Hannity that law enforcement authorities are overwhelmed at the southern border by the flood of illegal immigrants and cannot simultaneously handle the influx of cartel criminality in the Antelope Valley. What is naloxone and should everyone have access to it? Your tax dollars pay for firefighters, police officers, emergency services, recreational areas, new roads, new schools, and improved public areas. Through this method, some of the cartels were able to produce four harvests last year, rather than just one. In July, an individual was killed and two others were injured at a Mariposa County cartel marijuana grow, according to the Merced Sun-Star. Read Less by: Erika Martin. San Bernadino Sheriff Shannon Dicus told the Daily Caller that the department often sees human trafficking in these grows. The elected leaders, flanked by state water and wildlife officials at the press conference, said the illegal marijuana farms were operating despite Californias Proposition 64, which legalized and created a marketplace for the drug. Carter said the whole setup showed a great deal of expertise, calling it "sophisticated. Destinations. 686.4K. When the raids started June 8, Villanueva called them "the largest operation ever to . 30% OFF FOR NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY! According to the most recently available Part-1 Crime Report from Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, in 2021 the Antelope Valley saw a significant uptick in serious crime compared to the same month in 2020: Criminal Homicide is up 80% in Lancaster; Aggravated Assault is up 40.91% and Grand Theft Auto is up 50.20% in the nearby unincorporated rural areas; Rape is up 27.78% in Palmdale. Last month, Bonta toured Antelope Valley by helicopter to view the epidemic of illegal marijuana groves sprouting up around the state, sucking dry the water wells, aquifers, and other supplies . Illegal drug cartels and gang activity are taking over small Southern California towns and causing residents to flee their homes, according to a new investigative documentary released by Daily Caller reporter Jorge Ventura. Always nice when half the conversation gets deleted. Immediately upon inauguration, Biden effectively opened wide the border by reversing many of the Trump-era immigration policies and halting construction of the physical barrier system. In an interview Thursday night on Fox News' "Hannity," she discussed the results of an investigation done in cooperation with Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif. until WED 12:00 PM PST, Antelope Valley. Kindred Healthcare, LLC (Kindred) and Antelope Valley Hospital today announced a joint venture to build and operate a 125,000-square-foot, two- story hospital in Lancaster, California, in northern Los Angeles County, which will include 96 behavioral health beds and 25 acute inpatient rehabilitation beds. Opinion | ( Don MacKinnon /AFP/Getty Images). Will Californias misused environmental law finally be reformed? The names listed below are alumni who have been searched for on this site from Antelope Valley High Schoolin Lancaster, California . Those residents who resist are threatened and intimidated into silence or worse. While the secluded forests of Northern California are still popular for these sites, more and more criminals see an opportunity in the sprawling desertvast amounts of sparsely populated space, lots of sun, and the presence of law enforcement is not as prevalent. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. patients, and sees 1,100 inpatient behavioral health patients. Los Angeles Metro is a crime-infested train wreck, Gov. Within five miles of my house, there are probably 50 grows blatant, open operations, said the resident, who was unidentified to protect privacy. Travelers coming . Many of the workers are illegal immigrants themselves who are forced into a never-ending cycle of indentured servitude. $1.2 billion in illegal marijuana seized from, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, $1.2 billion in illegal marijuana seized from California farms, authorities say, Internet personality Yo Pesci receives seven year sentence after flashing firearms on social media, Man who sold fatal dose of fentanyl to California college student gets 9 years in federal prison, Feds seek to limit telehealth prescriptions for some drugs. Will Californias misused environmental law finally be reformed? . A resident told the Daily Caller that, starting a year ago, the grows began popping up exponentially. in Antelope Valley, CA. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. School Directory Information. It also frees up the legal industry to better compete with, and therefore drive down in number, destructive illicit operations. NEW SPECIAL RAW GARDEN PRICES!! Thank you for contacting us. Law enforcement authorities cleared numerous illegal marijuana grow locations in the Antelope Valley today in what the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deemed "the largest operation ever to take place in the history of LASD.'' . Were 300 miles away from the border and have one of the largest illegal drug operations happening in the high deserts of Los Angeles.. Opinion | The known number of illegal farms in unincorporated areas near Lancaster exploded from around 150 to 500 in 2020, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva on Wednesday, July 7, during a press conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. Gavin Newsom to revisit Proposition 64, which legalized cannabis use in the state and took the penalty for growing marijuana from a felony to a $500 misdemeanor fine. 34th year, no. Whaaaa, whaaaaa, lol. That crime, however, doesnt simply stop at the towns along the border itself. U.S. Representative Mike Garcia indicated that residents at a town hall meeting about illegal farms last year determined there had been a cartel member in the audience. We thank those residents who contacted the LASD to provide the information which led to the apprehension of the suspect, the seizure of the illegal narcotics, and the return of these public lands to the residents of the Antelope Valley. It is situated between the Tehachapi, Sierra Pelona, and the San Gabriel Mountains. Antelope Valley has historically been used for livestock grazing (private cattle/sheep operation as well as public allotments) and small-scale logging with the earliest documented use in 1922. RAD Technology Medical Systems (RAD), a provider of custom, modular healthcare facilities, has partnered with Antelope Valley Medical Center, a facility of the Antelope Valley Healthcare District located in Lancaster, California, to provide them with a modular Emergency Department addition. Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. Unbridled Evil: The Corrupt Reign of Jiang Zemin in China. . What is naloxone and should everyone have access to it? The Legislature is also engaged in addressing the problem. They're stealing it from fire hydrants. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department . This is what happens when you dont secure the border. LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) Illegal pot growing operations in the Antelope Valley are now an international cartel issue, according to Congressman Mike Garcia. "I want to be very clear that these are not mom and pop or legal operations that we are fighting," he said Tuesday. Also published North Valley ed., Apr. Some trips provide express service and do not serve all stops. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva described the region as becoming, once again, the "Wild West." While law-abiding residents face particularly intense drought conditions, illegal growers steal water, worsening the already-heavy strains on Californias water supply. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The 10-day operation resulted in 22 felony arrests, 109 misdemeanor arrests, and 19 arrests, according to the LASD. Each year, Antelope Valley Medical Center has more than 220,000 patient Tap here to add The Western Journal to your home screen. While many families and businesses are already feeling the crunch of todays economy, legal growers are further pushed out of the market by illicit activity. Garcia said the problem was so big he was urging more federal help. To get the full experience of this website, Terms of Use, My reply was squashed again. Also issued on the internet. Antelope Valley Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation Nets 3800 plants. Garcia said he has surveyed areas by helicopter around the Antelope Valley with Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. ft. building on sierra hwy. DNV is the first accreditation body to issue a Stroke Plus Certification, making Antelope Valley Medical Center a Thrombectomy Capable Center. . Download Antelope Valley Press EEdition and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Residents are afraid too. Buying cars from local dealers in the Antelope Valley means you'll not only get the best deal, but you'll be contributing to the growth of our valley and keeping our streets clean and safe. Relatively Affordable. Antelope Valley Medical Center announces that it has received certification from DNV as a Primary Plus Stroke Center, affirming the hospitals readiness to handle a full range of stroke-related medical problems. Devil's Punchbowl is the most prominent of several outstanding local . overwhelmed at the southern border by the flood of illegal immigrants and cannot simultaneously handle the influx of cartel criminality in the Antelope Valley. to the community for 65+ years. Ryan Rolls Over on Tucker Over Fox News Content, Old Joe Biden Has Never Told a WEIRDER Story Than This One, We Need to Talk About Mark Levin's Interview With Ron DeSantis, MONDAY AT 3PM EASTERN: 'Five O'Clock Somewhere' with Kruiser, VodkaPundit - Replay Available, LOL: White House Official Shares Tweet From Biden Showered With His Daughter, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Harvey Weinstein Gets 16-Year-Sentence For Sexual Abuse Charges In L.A. Palmdale is a relatively affordable place to live. Antelope Valley VA Clinic. In the Antelope Valley, illegal grows have doubled from 200 last year to 400 today, according to county data, while other estimates put the number in the thousands. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today. hospital in the Antelope Valley, has been delivering exceptional care The investigation took place near Lancaster, California. Cartelville, USA, released Nov. 4, documents Venturas investigation into the illegal marijuana growing operations popping up in Los Angeles County, particularly in his native Antelope Valley. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you may call L.A. You also agree to our. Antelope Valley Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation Nets 3800 plants. The San Gabriel Mountains and the Tehachapi Mountains give the valley a triangular shape. 1.1M. Read More. Campus Dining. Villanueva said California's relatively lenient laws and penalties were making the situation worse. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? An historic bust in the Antelope Valley resulted in the seizures of 16 tons of illegal marijuana with a street value of $1.2 billion and highlighted how illegal growers contribute to a myriad of major problems that California faces. All Rights Reserved. By late morning, the sheriff's department reported that authorities had made "several . Gov. This week, Representative Mike Garcia brought Fox News's Sara Carter to the Antelope Valley to raise awareness of the increasing problem of illegal marijuana grows and related crime in the Antelope Valley and surrounding areas, including Acton and Agua Dulce. Tuesday morning illegal drug cartel workers in California's Antelope Valley got a rude awakening complete with bulldozers, helicopters, and paddy wagons courtesy of the largest law enforcement o. 'Many biblical references to authenticate these claims. This is what happens when you dont value law enforcement. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! We carry the latest Street, Sportster, Dyna, S-Series, Softail, V-Rod, Touring, Trike, and CVO bikes. Service runs all-day, 7 days a week (excluding some holidays ). Officially made up of thirteen cities and many other sparsely populated areas, the Antelope Valley is located in the high desert of northern Los Angeles County. Californias Emerald Triangle communities were built on marijuana. Copyright 2023 PJMedia.com/Salem Media. The explosion in the Antelope Valley happened rapidly because the current top prosecutor in Los Angeles County refuses to go after perpetrators of these types of crimes. SUPPORT TRUTHFUL JOURNALISM. One lucky, FAMILY AFFAIR: INSIDE SNOOP DOGG AND HIS BOSS LADY, By continuing to use our site, you agree to our, Vanessa Bryant And L.A. County Reach Settlement Over Kobe Crash Site Case, Record Storm Tests The Limits Of Los Angeles Infrastructure. A marijuana plant in Vancouver, Canada, on Oct. 17, 2018. ), Oct. 3, 1992- Vol. Helping the illegal operations thrive is California's black market for weed. Tom Campbell: California mishandled the budget surplus, heres what should be done moving forward There's a difference between running a cartel and just doing the occasional drive-by for turf protection. In a special "Hannity" investigation, investigative journalist Sara Carter traveled to the Antelope Valley around Lancaster, Calif., where - hundreds of miles away from the Mexican border .