Over 2,300 marijuana plants seized from San Bernadino home

A man was arrested Tuesday after he was found tending more than 2,300 unauthorized marijuana plants at a San Bernardino property, according to law enforcement.

Camilo Farias-Rodrigues, 33, was described by authorities as a transient from central California who was hired to take care of the plants and was staying on the property in the 8000 block of Sunnyside Avenue. He was booked on suspicion of illegal cultivation of marijuana and is being held on $25,000 bail.

The identity of the individual who hired Farias-Rodrigues is still unknown, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies from the Sheriff’s Central Station and investigators from the Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team served a search warrant at the address after deputies responding to another call for service in the area noticed the plants.

“Some plants were 9’-10’ tall and could be seen over a 6-7-foot-tall fence,” said Cynthia Bachman, public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.

Upon entering the property, authorities found Farias-Rodrigues in the backyard tending to the growing marijuana. He was arrested without resistance and authorities confiscated the plants, which they said were in various stages of growth.

“The suspect arrested at the scene appeared to have limited experience growing marijuana,” said Bachman. “The owners of the marijuana plants are rarely found at these types of grows. They are aware of the risk that law enforcement could arrive and arrest them.”

Even though Farias-Rodrigues is not the property owner, deputies believe he was in violation of medical marijuana laws and local ordinances that prohibit outdoor cultivation of marijuana within unincorporated areas of the county.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office will determine what charges, if any, will be filed against Farias-Rodrigues.