Police Seize $1 Million in 'Magic' Mushrooms

BERKELEY, California -- Berkeley police responding to a call about a bickering couple said Monday they found nearly 700 pounds of psilocybin “magic” mushrooms with a street value of $1 million in the house, alongside a massive cultivation and sales operation of the illegal drugs.

“I’ve been a cop for 17 years, and it’s very rare to see mushrooms in this quantity,” said Sgt. Andrew Frankel, spokesman for the Berkeley Police Department.

Police went to the home in the 1700 block of Alcatraz Avenue at 10 p.m. Saturday after receiving a call about a domestic disturbance.

Inside, a 37-year-old woman and her 35-year-old boyfriend refused to open the door, police said Monday in a statement.

“After a short time, the two exited the house and were detained,” the statement said. Officers then entered the house to see if anyone else was inside.

“In plain view were psilocybin mushrooms in various stages of cultivation, as well as storage and distribution materials,” police said.

The officers got a search warrant and seized 677 pounds of the mind-altering mushrooms, more than $3,000 in cash, and evidence indicating a “large-scale psychedelic mushroom processing operation,” the statement said.

“It certainly makes you wonder what sparked the argument,” Frankel said. “I don’t think they were fighting over the TV remote control.”

The couple, whose names have not been released, were arrested and booked into the Alameda County Jail on narcotics-related charges.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @NanetteAsimov

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