Marijuana Operation Discovered East Of Lake Elsinore

Four people have been arrested in what police are describing as “a large marijuana cultivation operation.”

The arrests were made late on Oct. 24 following an investigation that began in a Perris parking lot.

According to a report from Sgt. Ken Zunker, around 8:30 p.m. that night officers assigned to the Perris Police Department Special Enforcement Team conducted a vehicle check in a parking lot of a closed business at 4th Street and Perris Boulevard. 

“While speaking to the occupants of the vehicles, officers discovered the parties were meeting to conduct a narcotics transaction,” Zunker reported. “Officers subsequently located a large amount of marijuana and Hydrocodone for sale.” 

The investigation continued and police ultimately obtained a search warrant for a residence and large property located in the 21500 block of Yucca Road in unincorporated area between Lake Elsinore and Perris, Zunker continued.

“During the service of the search warrant, a large marijuana cultivation operation was discovered. This operation included three large greenhouses, drying rooms and indicia common with the illicit sales and cultivation of marijuana. As a result, over 1,000 pounds of unprocessed marijuana and over 20 pounds of processed marijuana were seized. In addition, a firearm was recovered,” Zunker reported. 

According to Zunker, the following suspects were arrested as part of the investigation:

Najeeb Diab, 19, San Jacinto, arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana;

Cruz Campista, 29, of Perris, arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, cultivation of marijuana, and transportation of marijuana for sale;

Sergio Martinez, 42, of Perris, arrested on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana;

Ismael Mendez, 45, of Perris, arrested on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana.

Jail records show Martinez and Mendez are being held in custody on $100,000 bail each. The records show Campista is being held on $250,000 bail.

There are no records in the Riverside County jail system for Diab and police did not release a booking photo of the suspect.