OAKLAND — At least $1 million worth of marijuana, including almost 1,300 thriving plants, was found at three houses used in a family-run cultivation and distribution operation, police said Friday.
Arrested were Hin Tac Hoang, 26, the man police suspect headed the enterprise, and his father, Le Hoang, 58.
Hoang’s mother, Binh Duong, 55, was detained and later released, but police said she also will be prosecuted.
The arrests and seizures happened Thursday.
Gang Unit Officer Doug Keely said police received information that Hin Hoang was a major marijuana dealer throughout Oakland who always carried a gun and grew the marijuana at three houses.
One is his family home on the 700 block of Foothill Boulevard, where he lived with his parents. Another house is on the 3100 block of Coolidge Avenue, and a third is on the 4600 block of Dolores Avenue in the Glenview district.
Each house had sophisticated growing operations, including timers, lighting, heaters, plant food, irrigation and ventilation systems, Keely said.
Keely confirmed Hin Hoang was wanted by San Francisco authorities on a no-bail warrant for failing to appear in court on concealed weapon and marijuana charges.
He also is on probation for a gun conviction, police said.
He was spotted about noon Thursday driving away from the Coolidge Avenue house in a Lexus and was stopped by Gang Unit Officer Gino Guerrero. Keely said Hoang had about $1,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine on him, and a sawed-off shotgun was found in the car.
After the car stop, Gang Unit officers joined by Targeted Enforcement Task Force officers raided the three houses.
A total of 1,298 plants, ranging from less than a foot high to several feet tall were found at the three houses, as well as more than 20 pounds of dried marijuana ready for sale.
Keely said the Coolidge and Dolores houses, which Hin Hoang rented under other names, were used strictly to grow marijuana, and the family had built an addition to the Foothill house for the weed.
Keely said police easily detected the marijuana’s pungent smell, and they wondered why no neighbors ever called to complain. They got an explanation of sorts at the Dolores site when a neighbor said she thought the odor from the house was from a skunk.
Besides the marijuana at the Foothill house, police also found $40,000 in cash, transaction records that included nicknames of clients, and an assault rifle and bulletproof vest in Hin Hoang’s bedroom.
Hin’s mother and father were at the Foothill house and admitted involvement in the operation, Keely said. The mother said the family “needed the money” the marijuana generated.
Police confiscated the father’s 2006 Mercedes E320.
Besides his parents’ involvement, Keely said Hin Hoang employed others to tend to the crops, paying them at least $100 a day. More arrests could be made, he said.
