Two men were arrested and thousands of illegally growing cannabis plants chopped down Tuesday after a search warrant was served in Thermal.
Jing Li Cheng, 46, and Michael Chen, 47, both of Rosemead, were booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of marijuana cultivation and released after posting $2,500 bail.
Deputies conducted the raid about 6 a.m. in the 85-000 block of Avenue 61, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Sgt. Mariano Matos III said deputies discovered 6,614 plants growing inside a greenhouse, weighing a total of 9,680 pounds. Authorities did not report finding any dried cannabis on the property.
Jail records indicate the men are scheduled to make their initial court appearances at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on June 16.