Mendocino National Forest Raids Net Pot, Pesticides, Plastic Pipe, and People

Mendocino Co. Sheriff Press Release:

Operation Full Court Press concludes a three week long, multi-agency marijuana operation in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, and Trinity counties.  Targeting large scale, illegal marijuana grows in and around the Mendocino National Forest. The operation consisted of more than 300 personnel from 25 local, state, and federal agencies.

The conclusion of the second phase of Operation Full Court Press has resulted in the seizure of 632,058 marijuana plants, 1986 pounds of processed marijuana, $28,031 U.S. Currency, 38 weapons, 20 vehicles, and the arrest of 132 individuals.  Of those arrested, 118 persons were booked on various federal and state charges to include marijuana, firearm, and immigration violations, while 14 were foreign nationals detained on administrative immigration violations. They will be processed for removal from the United States.

Additionally, more than 51,404 pounds of trash, 40 miles of irrigation line, 5,459 pounds of fertilizer, and 149 pounds of pesticides were removed from grow sites.

Nearly a third of the illegal grow sites eradicated as part of this operation was on public lands managed by the Department of the Interior. A dozen officers from the Bureau of Land Management and Fish & Wildlife Service were involved daily.

“Growers don’t recognize boundaries,” said Laurel Pistel, Special Agent in Charge for the BLM in California. “I’ve spent 18 years with the BLM in Northern California, and I’ve seen the marijuana industry evolve from small, personal use gardens to large-scale complexes with armed guards on public lands. We were proud to be a partner in this large-scale effort.  It’s a win for the environment and the public.”

It is believed many of these grow sites are controlled by drug trafficking organizations. As a result, law enforcement from a variety of agencies dedicated resources to the investigation, eradication, and reclamation to control this illegal activity.

Reclamation efforts will continue as law enforcement strives to remove these materials which will help restore the land to its natural state and will eliminate the infrastructure.  This is imperative to deter drug trafficking organizations from re-establishing their operations.

Contact: Michelle Gregory 916-869-0413

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18 Comments
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Harry
Guest
Harry
12 years ago

Just legalize it and take away the artificial price support. When the money dries up so will the growers crime of poisoning and destroying the earth for profits. Pot is just a plant after all, no matter what the mythos surrounding it leads some to believe.

Harry
Guest
Harry
12 years ago

Just legalize it and take away the artificial price support. When the money dries up so will the growers crime of poisoning and destroying the earth for profits. Pot is just a plant after all, no matter what the mythos surrounding it leads some to believe.

Harry
Guest
Harry
12 years ago

Then too, law enforcement will be able to focus on “real” crime and our overcrowded prisons will have more space for “real” criminals. Both growers and narco-agents depend on illegality for their jobs and income though, so don’t hold your breath for sanity. Too much money involved in this plant for that to happen I think?

Harry
Guest
Harry
12 years ago

Then too, law enforcement will be able to focus on “real” crime and our overcrowded prisons will have more space for “real” criminals. Both growers and narco-agents depend on illegality for their jobs and income though, so don’t hold your breath for sanity. Too much money involved in this plant for that to happen I think?

Jennifer Savage
Guest
12 years ago

Kim, this is so interesting. Thanks for posting!

Jennifer Savage
Guest
12 years ago

Kim, this is so interesting. Thanks for posting!

Ben Schill
Guest
Ben Schill
12 years ago

Only 14 illegals?

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Ben Schill

Ben, some of the people being charged are also illegals. How many though? I don’t know.

Ben Schill
Guest
Ben Schill
12 years ago

Only 14 illegals?

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Ben Schill

Ben, some of the people being charged are also illegals. How many though? I don’t know.

trackback

[…] about who is likely to grow on public lands, the more we can understand and combat the problem.  This recent press release announces that at least 14 of those arrested were “foreign nationals detained on […]

trackback

[…] about who is likely to grow on public lands, the more we can understand and combat the problem.  This recent press release announces that at least 14 of those arrested were “foreign nationals detained on […]

the
Guest
the
12 years ago

Kym I cannot find the post I first posted about EPIC and the request to analyze illegal cannabis growing, but I heard some Forestry peoples talking about it in Covelo outside the gas stations. By the way it is a shame what happened to the railroad there. That was my favorite run. It is all slides now.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  the

It is here.

the
Guest
the
12 years ago

Kym I cannot find the post I first posted about EPIC and the request to analyze illegal cannabis growing, but I heard some Forestry peoples talking about it in Covelo outside the gas stations. By the way it is a shame what happened to the railroad there. That was my favorite run. It is all slides now.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  the

It is here.

the
Guest
the
12 years ago

Your right thank you. I searched everywhere tonight to find an article or something that talks of the conversation I overhead and found nothing. Maybe I am now a rumor guy like I hate so much?

the
Guest
the
12 years ago

Your right thank you. I searched everywhere tonight to find an article or something that talks of the conversation I overhead and found nothing. Maybe I am now a rumor guy like I hate so much?