Location: Rd 131/Ave 78, Teviston

Incident Date: 05-06-16

Incident Time: 1100 hours

Case Number: 16-70054

Victim: State of California

City: Teviston

Posted by: Dispatch

While patrolling an area in the Teviston community, Deputies located a large amount of poppy flowers growing in the front yard of a property. Upon making contact with occupants, it was discovered a poppy bulb to be scored/cut. The scoring or cutting of a opium poppy bulb allows the bulb to secrete a liquid which hardens and is raw opium.

Detectives from NTF (Narcotics Task Force) responded and authored a search warrant for the property. Detectives from NTF, STEP and Patrol eradicated the poppy grow. In total, 2,974 poppy plants were eradicated. Each plant contained between 2 and 13 bulbs which range in diameter. All plants were between 2 and 4 feet in height.

This case is currently under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office via telephone at 1-800-808-0488 / 559-733-6218 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 559-725-4194 and download the Tip now app for Android or Apple phones.