$24 Million Pot Grow Found In Granada Hills: Natale Gabriele Arrested In Connection With The Operation
Los Angeles police on Wednesday said they discovered $24 million worth of pot plants in O'Melveny Park in Granada Hills. The sophisticated grow, which used pumped irrigation from a local stream, was discovered via aerial surveillance, police said.
Last weeky 49-year-old West Hills resident Natale Gabriele was arrested in connection with the grow and a the 10-month investigation police launched to pinpoint it.
Police enlisted a California Air National Guard Condor Squadron C-130 plane to search for illicit grows: The Granada Hills operation was located in April, but authorities had to analyze aerial photographs closely to be sure.
According to a Los Angeles Police Department statement:
In July, detectives hiked into the area and found over a hundred large marijuana plants growing, some towering over ten feet high. The plants were discovered about a mile and a half north of the O'Melveny Park parking lot and approximately 300 yards off of the main hiking trail, making them well hidden from view.
Another 3,000 plants were found, police said. They believe the grow had been cultivated for at least two years.
Police believe more suspects are out there. Anyone with information about the grow was asked to call the LAPD at 818-832-1164 or 800-222-8477.
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