One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Reported Burglary Leads To Biggest Drug Bust In El Monte History
This is India, not El Monte. (Photo by ElPablo! via Flickr)
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.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
