PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BERKELEY IS OUT 677 POUNDS OF MAGIC MUSHROOMS

Berkeley police seize 677 pounds of drugs after stumbling onto psychedelic mushroom operation

By Alene Tchekmedyian

Los Angeles Times
September 26, 2017

Berkeley police stumbled onto a massive psychedelic mushroom operation while investigating a domestic disturbance, seizing 677 pounds of mushrooms with an estimated street value of more than $1 million, authorities said.

Two people — a 35-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman — were arrested in the bust late Saturday, according to the Berkeley Police Department.

Authorities were called to the home in the 1700 block of Alcatraz Avenue about 10 p.m. regarding a domestic disturbance between a couple. The occupants initially refused to open the door, but eventually came outside and were detained.

Officers then entered the house to search for other occupants, suspects or victims and discovered a “large-scale” mushroom processing operation, with psilocybin mushrooms in various stages of cultivation in plain view, along with storage and distribution materials.

Officers obtained a search warrant and seized the drugs, along with more than $3,000 in cash.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This case may be thrown out of court over the way the search warrant was obtained. Look for the lawyers to argue that the cops entered the house without permission and without a search warrant on the pretense there might be someone else inside.