More than 68,000 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $306 million were removed from the Los Padres National Forest in two eradication operations on 14 and 15 July 2008, the U.S. Forest Service announced on 16 July.[1][2]
On Monday 14 July, about 40 officers from the Forest Service, the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, a federal drug task force, the state fish and game department and the state’s CAMP program pulled an estimated 54,000 plants from plots along Santiago Creek near Cerro Noroeste Road in Kern County.[1][2] The cleared growing area covered about 20 acres of native shrubs and trees cut down to make room for the plants.[2]
On Tuesday 15 July, about 40 officers from the Forest Service, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department narcotics bureau and SWAT team and the state parks department removed more than 14,000 plants from plots in the Gold Hill area near Hungry Valley in Ventura County.[1][2] Officers found campsites, extensive irrigation systems and ammunition for assault rifles, shotguns and handguns at the Ventura site, but no weapons.[1]
Two arrests
Forest Service officers had arrested Alejandro Anguiano, 35, of Alhambra, and Jorge Lucatero, 28, of Pico Rivera, on 11 July while the pair carried food and supplies to workers at the Ventura County gardens.[1][2] Both men were held in Ventura County custody on suspicion of conspiracy to cultivate marijuana while the investigation continued.[1][2] No arrests were made at the Kern County site, and officers said that investigation would continue.[2]
