Released: July 19, 2012 - Thursday, 04:40 PM
Narcotics Investigation
Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: 7-16-12Place of Occurrence: Los Padres National Forest, near Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa MargaritaVictim Information: N/ASuspect Information: Jose Luis Villa-Carmino, 28, Bakersfield
Rafael Deniz-Lopez, 26, San Bernardino
Pablo Ramirez-Ayala, 27, Bakersfield
Jose Herrera-Aguilera, 30, Bakersfield On Monday, 7-16-12, Investigators with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit, the Kern County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit and U.S. Forest Service agents completed a two month investigation into a large marijuana cultivation operation. Three different grow sites were located on Los Padres Forest land south of Santa Margarita Lake Road. Investigators confiscated 5,031 marijuana plants. Detectives had to reach the grow site by helicopter and that helicopter was also used to make 14 trips to remove a large amount of trash. As a result of that investigation, on Tuesday, 7-17-12, a search warrant was served at home in the 2400 block of Monterey Street in Bakersfield. Evidence there led to service of a second search warrant at a home in the 4900 block of Filmore Avenue in Bakersfield. Agents arrested four suspects and seized seven pounds of marijuana and 6 pounds of marijuana seeds. All four suspects have immigration holds. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected. 
