Seven people from out of the area are under arrest and 840 marijuana plants seized after Nevada County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a compliance check on property in the Smartsville area.

click to listen to Lt. Bill Smethers

The two deputies contacted five people on the property and noted there was no marijuana recommendation posted on site. The deputies called the Narcotics Task Force to respond and they also found numerous trails and water lines that led to a second parcel where a crew was drilling a well,  and there were more marijuana plants being grown in containers.

click to listen to Lt. Bill Smethers

The task force then obtained a search warrant for both parcels.     

click to listen to Lt. Bill Smethers
Officers also found and seized a .22 caliber rifle, a 9 mm handgun and $5,000 in cash.
The narcotics task force learned that the 7 people at the property, all from the Fresno area had gone together to purchase the lots, at the recommendation of a realtor.

click to listen to Lt. Bill Smethers

Patterson Yang,53, Keng Yang, 61, Ka Chang, 50, and Tou Xeng Cha, 58 were booked into county jail on suspicion of criminal conspiracy and marijuana cultivation. Bail for each was set at $10,000. Waling Bang, 82, Yia Yang Yang,73, and Lao Yang, 56 were cited on the same charges but were released due to medical issues.
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