POMONA — We-Tip information led police to a large-scale marijuana grow operation in Pomona.
Police officers received anonymous information that two men were cultivating marijuana inside a business at 2720 Pomona Blvd., which is in an industrial area of the city.
When officers arrived on Monday they talked to Van Quang Nguyen, 50, of Westminster who said he was the renter of the property and in charge of what was inside the building, Pomona police Sgt. Jaime Gutierrez said in a written statement.
More than 2,800 plants in various stages of growth were found inside, he said.
Follow-up searches at the Westminster homes of the suspects yielded an additional 30 pounds of harvested marijuana, police said. The estimated street value of the pot was more than $1.5 million.
Nguyen, along with Thanh Van Lee, 40, of Westminster were arrested and booked at Pomona City Jail on suspicion of possessing and cultivating marijuana for sale, officials said. Their bail was set at $100,000.
Police said the suspects also stole electricity from Southern California Edison to set up the operation.
LA IMPACT, a regional narcotics unit, was called to the scene for assistance.