Federal drug enforcement agents are descending on several upscale homes in El Dorado County and elsewhere in the Sacramento region today, breaking up indoor marijuana growing operations.
One of the homes targeted early this morning was at 349 Arches Ave., just west of El Dorado Hills Boulevard.
"This is a three-level home and backs up to an elementary school," said Gordon Taylor, special agent in charge of the Sacramento office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The school is William Brooks Elementary, 3610 Park Drive.
The home in El Dorado Hills is one of several targeted in El Dorado County.
Agents also busted an extensive indoor marijuana growing operation at a home at 888 Maria Vista Way in Placerville and at 3447 Woodleigh Lane, Cameron Park.
Authorities said they believe those operations are linked to two indoor growing operations the DEA uncovered in Foresthill and Auburn last August and September. Those busts were made at a home on Todd Valley Road in Foresthill and in the 1600 block of High Street in Auburn, Taylor said.
By 7 a.m. at least three people were in custody in El Dorado Hills, and agents hope to make more arrests as the day unfolds, Taylor said.
People also were arrested in homes at 4080 Monte Verde Dr., Lincoln; a home on White Cedar Lane, Elk Grove; and 7101 Snowy Birch Way and 8430 Auberry Drive and 8251 Grandstaff Drive, Sacramento.
"The interesting thing about these homes is they're a bit different than what we encountered a few years ago in Elk Grove," Taylor said. "These are three-level homes, they appear to be using the lower level or basement area for their growing operation, while they're making sure the upper levels looked lived in."
Taylor said that the people involved in these operations appear to be making more of an effort to blend into the neighborhood.
Further details will be available as today's enforcement advances.
Bee staff writer Niesha Lofing contributed to this report.
Call The Bee's David Richie, (916) 608-7455.
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