Three people were arrested Friday after Kern County sheriff’s deputies executed search warrants at properties in Maricopa and Taft as part of a marijuana cultivation investigation, authorities said.

Deputies from the Taft Substation, assisted by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens, searched a property in the 500 block of Klipstein Street in Maricopa and another in the 400 block of E Street in Taft.

At the Maricopa property, investigators found 959 marijuana plants, 52 pounds of processed marijuana, and a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, according to the sheriff’s office.

Jose Hernandez Ramirez, 27, and Victor de la Cruz Garcia, 27, both from Mexico, were arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm while maintaining a place for sales, maintaining a place for sales, possessing marijuana for sale, and marijuana cultivation.

Authorities said two firearms were also found at the Taft property.

Alberto Guitron, 58, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person and maintaining a residence for sales.

The sheriff’s office said the Taft search was part of a lengthy marijuana cultivation investigation involving several search warrants. Authorities said the investigation has resulted in the seizure of 2,112 indoor marijuana plants, 873 outdoor plants, 641.5 pounds of processed marijuana, and two loaded firearms.

Ramirez, Garcia, and Guitron were booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lerdo Justice Facility.

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