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5,000 marijuana plants were discovered as area police investigated a reported burglary in progress on Saturday in El Monte. Officials are calling it "the biggest drug bust in the city's history," according to KTLA.
Police detained five people in a U-Haul Truck while responding on the 2500 block of Continental Avenue to the "burglary in progress" call. One of detainees reportedly alerted the officers to a warehouse "a grow operation," and a search warrant was obtained. The investigation is ongoing.
According to NBC Local, the five men arrested outside the "marijuana plantation" were outfitted with clippers and gloves, said El Monte police detective Ralph Batres, continuing, "They were there to rip it off." This source estimates the number of growing plants at 3,000, and a street value of about $1 million.