SANTA ANA, CA – Santa Ana police and California state officers executed a dramatic search warrant at a local commercial building on Tuesday, uncovering a massive illegal marijuana distribution network.
Tactical Raid on Pendleton Avenue
Law enforcement officials stormed the building located on the 3600 block of West Pendleton Avenue around noon. Officers were forced to break down doors and smash windows, deploying flashbangs after several individuals refused to leave a bathroom where they were hiding.
According to witnesses, nearly half a dozen people were detained and taken into police custody during the operation.
Landlords Blindsided by Tenant Operation
The building owner’s family expressed complete shock over the raid. Darren Hansen, the owner’s son, stated that the property had been rented out under the impression it would be used strictly for commercial storage.
“We rented this building out to some people who said they were using it for storage,” Hansen noted, explaining that tenants frequently moved boxes in and out. “Come to find out they had marijuana vapes in here.”
Evidence Uncovered
A walkthrough of the property following the raid revealed multiple rooms packed with materials used for illicit distribution. Authorities seized thousands of items, including what appeared to be bulk shipments of marijuana vape pens and packaging supplies.
The investigation is ongoing as police work to determine the full scale of the operation and identify all individuals involved in the distribution ring.
