cannabisnews.com: 50,000 Pot Plants Confiscated in San Benito County 50,000 Pot Plants Confiscated in San Benito County Posted by FoM on September 15, 1999 at 12:27:07 PT Second-largest seizure in state history Source: San Francisco Chronicle After a month long investigation, law enforcement officials in San Benito County yesterday squashed the second-largest marijuana-growing operation in state history, leaving behind the remains of more than 50,000 mature plants in a remote, rugged area south of San Benito Mountain near Cantua Creek. To state and local officials, the bust was a signal that more aggressive tactics to snuff out marijuana are working. Throughout the Bay Area, sheriff's deputies and state narcotics agents are boasting big marijuana raids that they attribute to increased resources, better tips from the public and more sophisticated technology that make plants easier to spot. In San Benito County, officials used helicopters to locate more than 12,000 pounds of the blue- green marijuana plants, growing at about 4,300 feet. San Benito County Undersheriff Ken Brown said deputies and authorities with the state's Department of Justice Campaign Against Marijuana Planting were in the process yesterday of removing most of the plants from the San Benito mountainside. The plants were cut down, airlifted by helicopter to another location and buried, he said. About 30 deputies and agents with the Unified Narcotic Enforcement Team have been working to eradicate the plants since Thursday. The bust was second only in size to a 1983 raid in Glenn County, which netted more than 60,000 plants. ``It's a lot of dope,'' Brown said. ``In my 30 years here, it's the most dope I've ever seen.'' Last year, Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies leveled more than 21,000 nearly mature plants, which were found growing near the Calaveras Reservoir east of Milpitas. In the last three weeks, deputies have discovered thousands of plants in the southern portion of the county. Sgt. Luther Pugh said a combination of anonymous tips from sources and technology such as night-vision enable them to uncover the most remote growth sites. Their last tip, he said, came from an outdoor enthusiast who just happened to stumble on some marijuana plants near Mount Madonna County Park. ``I would say there's a bit more of a commitment from law enforcement and by the state,'' he said. ``Our tips are also panning out better. Typically, we would develop information from flyovers with the Air National Guard. But now we also get tips from hikers, hunters and property owners.'' In the East Bay, authorities are investigating two separate marijuana-growing operations that were discovered within a two-week period. On August 31, a police burglar alarm call led to the discovery of hydroponic growing equipment and 2,000 marijuana plants worth up to $2 million at a small warehouse on 29th Street in Oakland. On Saturday, hikers found a 500-plant marijuana farm in the hills above Pleasanton and scared off three men believed to be the growers. The plants had an estimated street value of $1 million and were supported by an elaborate irrigation system, officials said. On the same day as the Oakland find, Healdsburg police and a Sonoma County narcotics task force arrested a couple on suspicion of cultivating and possessing marijuana. Police found 50 marijuana plants and four pounds of dried marijuana worth $20,000 inside their home on Alta Vista Drive. Authorities uncovered the illegal operation in San Benito County after deer hunters saw several men carrying sacks in the area of a large marijuana garden in Cantua Creek. The men contacted a sheriff's deputy, who initiated an investigation into the activities of the suspected growers and requested that a helicopter fly over the area. Attorney General Bill Lockyer announced yesterday that this year's state Campaign Against Marijuana Planting will surpass all other seasons in the 17-year history of the program. This year alone, agents and officers seized 163,927 marijuana plants, made 14 arrests and confiscated 10 weapons. The total exceeds the previous record of 166,199 plants in 1985. ``We used to think of marijuana as being individual enterprises,'' said Michael Van Winkle, information officer for the California Department of Justice. ``But now, what you have are big, commercial enterprises. The drug cartels are either Mexican drug cartels or cartels run by Mexicans in California. Now, instead of small gardens, they hire dozens of people to tend these very large gardens.'' For several weeks, local, state and federal agents conducted surveillance of the men. Last week, a raid led to the arrests of 10 undocumented Mexican nationals. The men, most of whom gave a Madera address, were booked into the San Benito County Jail on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, conspiracy to cultivate marijuana and carrying a loaded weapon. Officials believe more suspects may be involved and are searching for information that could lead to the arrest of a ringleader, said San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill. ``They're working for someone else,'' Hill said. ``These suspects had a huge amount of work to do.'' Julie N. Lynem, Chronicle Staff WriterWednesday, September 15, 1999 ©1999 San Francisco Chronicle Page A22 Pot Bust May Be One of Largest in State History - 9/15/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2889.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Prunepower on February 24, 2001 at 15:49:56 PT: Egad! Damn, I guess I should have put a roof on that greenhouse! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by B.H.T CARTEL on February 13, 2001 at 13:23:46 PT H.P.D. AND WHAT WE REALY THINK. B.H.T. I THINKYOU DON'T DO YOUR JOB ANY WAYS SO WHY TRY AND SAY YOU DO. YOU GET ONE GOOD BUST AND YOU SAY "WE MADE A DIFFRENCE".I SAY FAT CHANCE. B.H.T. WILL NEVER COME DOWN. WERE THE POLICE OF HOLLISTER AND MOVVIN UP EVERY DAY. WE JUST GROW STRONGER ALL THE TIME AKA.PISTOLETTO http://WWW.RUFFHOUSE FIREHOUSEMAIL.COM [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Cheech on January 29, 2001 at 06:29:09 PT Holy Sheep Shit GIVE ME SOME OF DAT SHIT Comment #3 posted by genny on September 27, 2000 at 10:11:58 PT: heaven! can i please just have one of those plants, i not trying to be gready. or if they burn it can i stand there and watch, inhale and cry! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Scott Vines on April 28, 2000 at 17:58:25 PT: Pot Confiscation in San Benito Co. All of this over a plant! What a waste of time and resources. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by cerebus on September 15, 1999 at 13:13:39 PT hurray! yea lets make more room for other growing operations and push the price up a fraction if at all. if theres money to be made in anything in a "free" society, and i used that term loosely, then someone will do it for every one they bust more than likely 5 will take his place. keep up the steller work guys, yea right. truth and moderation in all things! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: