Drug Cultivators Caught by LAPD

Two suspects in Gabriel Valley attempted to take marijuana production into their own hands; however, their massive cache was discovered this week by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

According to police reports the two suspects - Joseph Hsu, 30, and Pauline McDonnell, 22 - has a serious marijuana-growing enterprise in the Hsu's home, as well as a commercial building fronting as consultant's office. Hsu is suspected to be a member of the notorious Chinese street gang Wah Ching.

Both have been taken into custody on narcotics charges; Hsu faces additional charges for weapon possession. Officers had been investigating the two for nearly a month based on a tip sent to the department. The tip proved to be worthwhile as officers finally discovered what Hsu and McDonnell were hiding: hydroponic cultivation equipment, 150 pounds of dried marijuana, a shotgun and two handguns. The street value of the found marijuana is believed to be $2.5 million.

Some officers believe that Hsu was growing the marijuana to fund his street gang's activities.

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