BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Authorities said law enforcement agents arrested three people and seized thousands of marijuana plants from an alleged illegal, underground but sophisticated marijuana grow in the desert near Boron.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said deputies served a search warrant on Aug. 6 at around 8:30 a.m. at the suspected illegal grow just north of Boron.

Officials said law enforcement found and destroyed 17,650 marijuana plants and approximately 1,069 pounds of processed marijuana was seized. Officials said illegal grow “consisted of numerous seatrains with a sophisticated electrical and ventilation/cooling systems” that ran off a diesel-powered generator.

Three people were arrested following the search. Two of the suspects tried to flee, but they were quickly apprehended, according to a release.

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KCSO identified the three suspects as Qingxue Zhang, 57; Siyun Cao, 32; and Xiyyu Zou, 53. All three are from China, sheriff’s officials said.

The suspects were all booked into the Lerdo Justice Facility on multiple charges including maintaining a place for drug sales, cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy, according to the sheriff’s office.

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