50-acre marijuana farm near Sanger raided

Posted at 09:57 AM on Thursday, Jul. 28, 2011
By Jim Guy / The Fresno Bee

Fresno County sheriff's deputies and federal agents took down on a giant marijuana plantation near Sanger early this morning, seizing thousands of plants and taking about 50 people into custody.

The farm, on California Avenue east of McCall Avenue, covered more than 50 acres and had observation towers and living quarters for workers.

It was surrounded by a six-foot cyclone fence topped with barbed wire. Plastic sheeting covered the fence to prevent passersby from looking inside. Plants in various states of growth lined neatly cultivated rows.

Fresno County supervisors voted to ban outdoor marijuana cultivation in 2010. Drug Enforcement Administration agents joined the raid because federal law does not recognize the legality of marijuana for medicinal use, DEA special agent John Donnelly said.

"There's no medical marijuana in the federal system," said Donnelly, who joined Sheriff Margaret Mims this morning outside the farm. U.S. marshals also took part in the operation, which began at sunrise as officers surrounded the field and ordered the workers to surrender. Mims said there was no resistance from those taken into custody.

Mims said the operation has been targeted before and deputies were aware it was in operation again.

"This is a domestic drug trafficking cartel," she said of the operation. While declining to identify the property owners, she said it is possible the property could be seized in asset forfeiture law under federal statutes.

Those taken into custody were being interviewed to determine what charges they may face, authorities said.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/28/248 ... z1TQrZ4xvk