Acting on tips from neighbors, aerial patrols, and other sources, about 20 Sheriff’s deputies raided six marijuana grows in Landers yesterday, arrested 17 people, and seized almost 2,000 mature marijuana plants. Deputies raided a residence in the 1200 block of Goat Mountain Road, where 421 plants were seized and two men were arrested; in the 58600 block of Philippe Lane, with 216 plants seized and where one man was arrested; a loaded .38 revolver and methamphetamine were also found; the 60500 block of Lorraine Road, where 414 mature marijuana plants were seized and two men were arrested; the 400 block of Mallow Road, where 322 plants were seized; and the 61600 block of Neptune, where 10 men were arrested, 174 mature and budding plants were seized, as well as 100 pounds of processed 
marijuana, and a .22-caliber rifle; and in the 3000 block of Sage Avenue, two men were arrested, 378 plants seized, and two pounds of processed marijuana.
Managing editor Tami Roleff was there for one of the raids and files this report…
At the first three raids on marijuana grows in Landers Wednesday morning, deputies arrested five people. At the fourth raid in the 400 block of Mallow, the caretakers at the marijuana grow in the 400 block of Mallow had most likely been tipped off; Sheriff’s Sergeant Ernie Perez said no one was at the grow when deputies arrived. “We didn’t get any answer and the door was locked so we had to force the entry inside.” The house, which didn’t have any bedrooms, had two tents set 
up inside. “You have a house, a residence, with rooms. Why would you sleep in a tent? You can clearly see they don’t have furniture; it’s not like a normal house.” Outside, the half-acre back yard was completely fenced in with privacy fencing and plastic sheeting to protect the secret crop from the eyes of nosy neighbors. “They want this to be discrete, clandestine, if you will.” And there, planted in neat rows, were 322 mature marijuana plants, ready for harvesting. After conducting their investigation, the deputies pulled out all the plants and threw them into the back of a trailer, to join plants from the earlier raids at the county incinerator. Then, it was on to the next grow, in the 61600 block of Neptune in Landers, and then on and on and on. “Yeah, this is what I do full-time every day.”
A complete list of those arrested can be found with this story at KCDZFM.com.
Arrested for investigation of cultivation of marijuana were:
1200 Goat Mountain Road
Phou Keomahaxay, 55;
Vanphachay Chanthaachone, 45
58600 Philippe Lane
Manuel De Jesus Martinez, 32
60500 Lorraine Road
Bounma Yommarath, 58
Thavon Phouthavong, 38
400 Mallow Road
Suspects unknown at this time
61600 Neptune Drive:
James Hubbard Sr., 64;
James Hubbard Jr., 32;
Jesus Tapia, 27;
Ronald Rice, 25;
Oscar Fuentes, 32;
Ronald Aguilar, 25;
Daniel Ortuno, 23;
Angel Flores Gomez, 21;
Hector Sanchez Uvalle, 26;
Leobegldo Antonio, 45
3000 Sage Avenue
Sengchanh Nanthavondouangsy, 44
Manikhone Chithavong, 59
