A raid on a southeast Fresno garden supply store ended with 811 unlicensed marijuana plants and hundreds of pounds of cannabis seized.

On Wednesday morning, Fresno City Code Enforcement, partnered with the Fresno Police Department, the California Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, served a search warrant at Gro More Garden Supply, 2686 N. Clovis Ave., near Fresno Yosemite International Airport.

The garden supply distributor sells fertilizers, grow lights, and other growing equipment.

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Arrest investigations are ongoing, according to Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz.

“The City of Fresno will continue to target illegal grow operations that stymie the legal cannabis industry,” said Janz. “Those who continue to operate outside the bounds of the law will be fined and subject to criminal prosecution.”

As previously reported by GV Wire, on Nov. 30, local and state authorities raided four Fresno smoke shops, seizing illegal cannabis and tobacco. They also discovered gambling operations.

Three of the four stores did not have business licenses. And, at one shop, inspectors seized $30,000 worth of cannabis and tobacco hidden inside a compartment. There were no arrests, but criminal citations were issued.

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Fresno and State Attorney General in Partnership to Prosecute Illegal Marijuana Operations

In August, the city attorney’s office and California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a pilot program to crack down on illegal cannabis operations. In response to the partnership, the Fresno City Council modified city ordinances to allow the seizure of real property and business assets of store owners illegally growing or selling marijuana.

Under the program, the attorney general’s office helps prosecute violators.

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