cannabis1

cannabis1A Long Beach man is one of five people suspected of running a concentrated cannabis extraction lab in San Bernardino County, according to the San Bernardino Sheriff-Coroner Department.

Deputies from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station responded to a residence on Stearman Road in Landers on Sunday at about 11:00AM to serve an arrest warrant for a suspect, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Department.

Upon arrival and making contact with the residents, deputies discovered a large-scale concentrated cannabis extraction lab that was operating at the residence.

“The suspects set up the extraction lab inside a steel storage container. Several glass tubes filled with marijuana and butane were discovered,” said Sheriff’s spokesman John McMahon in a statement. “This chemical process is illegal and is a violation of California’s Health & Safety Code. The extraction process is extremely dangerous with a high potential for explosion due to the use of large amounts of butane.”

Investigators seized six pounds of processed marijuana, four ounces of concentrated cannabis (oil), several hundred canisters of butane, seven glass tubes, an SKS assault rifle, a shotgun, a semi-automatic handgun and body armor at the scene.

Five suspects, including Ryan Schlafke of Long Beach, were detained and the Sheriff’s Narcotics Division Marijuana Enforcement Team responded to assist with the investigation.

Other suspects include Joshua Jackson, a 27-year-old transient; Muhammad Zureich, 21, of Culver City; Oscar Salcedo, 38, of Pacoima; and Victor Caro, 35, of Adelanto.

Schlafke, 34, and the other suspects, were arrested and charged with the manufacturing of a controlled substance, which is a felony.

Additional charges of a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Body Armor will be sought against Caro and Salcedo.

All five suspects have been booked at the Morongo Basin jail facility with a bail amount of $500,000.

The San Bernardino Sheriff-Coroner Department will submit the investigation to the San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office for criminal charges.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Narcotics Division at (909)890-4840. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.

Photo courtesy of San Bernardino Sheriff-Coroner Department