TIJUANA – In one of the largest seizures this year, the Mexican military confiscated nearly 6.4 tons of marijuana in three locations in the city's south side, announced Saturday the commander of the Second Military Zone, Gilberto Landeros.

The army also seized a gun, $4,900 in currency and five vehicles, including a van with a sign for a lighting and sound company whose slogan was, "We serve all types of events, including funerals."

Landeros said that three men were arrested in the operation but he did not identify them. He added that it had not been determined which criminal group owned the drug.

The 12,777 pounds of marijuana were displayed in the courtyard of the Morelos military base in 689 packages wrapped in plastic with adhesive tape.

The commander explained that a series of anonymous tips led the military on Friday to three buildings located on avenida Padre Hidalgo and calle Los Altos, in the La Gloria neighborhood, and on Fundadores Boulevard, in the El Rubí neighborhood, both on the city's south side.

He also announced that 12 fields with marijuana plants were spotted during military surveillance flights over Rosarito Beach on Thursday and Friday. The fields covered a total of 2.5 acres and the plants were incinerated, he said.

He said that an anonymous tip also led the military to a house in Mexicali where 3,483 pounds of marijuana were seized, though he did not specify when that occurred.

The largest seizure this year in Baja California occurred in mid-July, when the military discovered a marijuana field that covered 300 acres near the community of El Rosario, south of Ensenada.

Omar.millan@sandiegored.com