Kern County Deputies Eradicate 660 Marijuana Plants During Taft Raid, One Arrested

TAFT, Calif. (October 14, 2026) — A 32-year-old man was arrested after Kern County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered and eradicated 660 marijuana plants during a search warrant operation in Taft, authorities reported.

On October 8, deputies assigned to the Taft Substation, assisted by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force (KC-HIDTA) and the Taft Police Department, executed a search warrant in the 27000 block of Highway 119.

During the operation, investigators discovered 660 marijuana plants and dangerous pesticides at the cultivation site, raising additional safety concerns.

Authorities identified the suspect as Rogelio Lorenzo Francisca, 32, of Guerrero, Mexico.

Francisca was arrested and booked into the Taft jail facility on suspicion of multiple offenses, including:

• Illegal marijuana cultivation (HS 11358(c))

• Possession of marijuana for sale (HS 11359(b))

• Conspiracy (PC 182(a)(1))

• Resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer (PC 148(a)(1))

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities have not released additional details about the operation.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or Kern Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.

Source: Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

All charges are allegations, and the suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.