News
Released: July 2, 2010 - Friday, 02:19 PM
Deputies located the grow in the Rinconada Trail area of the Las Padres National Forest.
Undercover detectives found an AK-47 assault rifle apparently left behind by the growers. It is not unusual for growers to arm themselves with exotic firearms to protect their plants. Hikers are advised to leave any grow area they may stumble upon immediately and report the activity to authorities.
Besides the assault weapon, extensive trash and irrigation pipe littered the wooded area and is typical of a Mexican cartel grow operation.
This one day seizure tops a similar operation several years ago that netted 21,000 plants. Authorities are partially crediting the wet winter for the large mature planting operation.
Marijuana Eradication
Contact: Rob BrynPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: 7-1-10 8:00 AM - 6:00 PMPlace of Occurrence: Las Padres National Forrest - Riconada TrailVictim Information: State of CaliforniaSuspect Information: N/ASan Luis Obispo County Sheriff's narcotics detectives teamed with state and federal authorities on a major marijuana growing operation on Thursday, recovering 31,000 mature marijuana plants.Deputies located the grow in the Rinconada Trail area of the Las Padres National Forest.
Undercover detectives found an AK-47 assault rifle apparently left behind by the growers. It is not unusual for growers to arm themselves with exotic firearms to protect their plants. Hikers are advised to leave any grow area they may stumble upon immediately and report the activity to authorities.
Besides the assault weapon, extensive trash and irrigation pipe littered the wooded area and is typical of a Mexican cartel grow operation.
This one day seizure tops a similar operation several years ago that netted 21,000 plants. Authorities are partially crediting the wet winter for the large mature planting operation.
