[420 Girl]

The death of 23-year-old Adan Ruiz, whose body was discovered Sept. 17 along the side of Highway 154, is connected to the massive marijuana farm found just days later outside Lompoc, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.

Additionally, investigators said Wednesday, both are part of a larger narcotics organization that could span the entire state.

Nine suspects in the growing operation and homicide investigation were traced to a motel in Carpinteria and questioned, officials said. They were found to be undocumented immigrants and were turned over to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Brown said.

Additionally, five people from Perris, in Riverside County, have been arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale and are being questioned about their possible involvement in Ruiz's death, officials said.

The five suspects who were booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale were identified as [redacted].

Early in the investigation, sheriff's detectives thought the victim, who died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, was involved with marijuana cultivation, Brown said.

The department got a break in the case when authorities found the large marijuana growing operation along both sides of Highway 1 outside Lompoc. More than 90,000 plants, worth an estimated $275 million, were found there, Brown said.

While investigating the grow site, detectives found evidence that Adan Ruiz had been killed a quarter-mile from the cultivation operation, Brown said.

While looking into Ruiz's acquaintances and activities prior to his death, investigators followed leads to Riverside County including the cities of Perris, Murrietta and Lake Elsinore, Brown said.

Members of the sheriff's narcotics bureau and homicide division formed a joint task force for the case.

On Oct. 20, investigators served search warrants in Perris and seized guns, more than 800 pounds of processed marijuana, with an estimated value of $2.6 million, and more than $80,000 in cash, Brown said. Additional search warrants were served Oct. 30 seeking more information to connect Ruiz's death to the growing operation.

At a press conference Wednesday, Brown reminded county residents to be careful when in the backcountry of Los Padres National Forest or on remote pieces of ranch property because "the individuals tending these grows are typically armed and prepared to defend their crops."

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