The Riverside County Cannabis Regulation Task Force (CRTF) arrested two people suspected of utility theft while operating an illegal indoor marijuana grow at a residence in Temecula. It is alleged that an estimated $11,000 in utilities have been stolen at the home since October of last year.
The search warrant was served on the morning of March 25 at a two-story residence in the 45000 block of Camino Rubi in Temecula where CRTF members seized 743 marijuana plants. Songlian Pan, 62, and Liping Li, 56, were arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation, possession of cannabis for sales, and utility theft. They were booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
The purpose of the Cannabis Regulation Task Force is to protect properly licensed legal cannabis businesses and enforce regulatory requirements, which protect the environment and consumers. The aim of the task force is not to shut down legally operating facilities, but rather to ensure fair business practices and keep criminal activity out of the legal cannabis industry and out of our communities.
Agencies currently on the task force include the DA’s Bureau of Investigation, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Hemet Police Department, the Riverside Police Department, the Temecula Police Department, the Murrieta Police Department, the Palm Springs Police Department, and Riverside County Code Enforcement Department.