Kern County authorities executed a coordinated operation Thursday evening, shutting down four illegal marijuana dispensaries and arresting multiple individuals.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at the dispensaries around 6 p.m.

Support came from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Cannabis Enforcement Program, the California Department of Cannabis Control, and Kern County Probation officers.

Investigators from the Kern County District Attorney’s Office assisted with processing the dispensaries and conducting civil investigations. All four businesses — Lights Out Wellness, The Plum Tree Collective, CBD Botanicals, and The Hemp Depot — were found in violation of county and state health and safety codes and were closed. Kern County Code Compliance officials inspected the sites and deemed the buildings unsafe for occupancy.

Authorities seized 330.2 pounds of processed marijuana, 211.9 pounds of THC edibles, 324 pounds of THC concentrates, 3,072 THC vape cartridges, and 46 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms and edibles.

Nine individuals were arrested on charges including maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sale, and conspiracy to commit a crime. One suspect, Arsenio Trice, also faces a methamphetamine possession charge. Those arrested include Vasil Kobaladze, 51, of Acton; Manal Benjamaa, 26, of Lancaster; Arsenio Trice, 36, of Mojave; Eric Aponte, 23, of Rosamond; Selena Labrador, 23, of Rosamond; LilGene Waylon Zaragoza, 21, of Wasco; Jonathan Corrales, 20, of Cal City; Robert Romero, 45, of Rosamond; and Brent Cowan, 42, of Bakersfield.

All were booked into the Lerdo Justice Facility.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration will follow up with investigations regarding illicit marijuana sales and related violations at the locations.

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