Thread: Arrests of suspects followed by pot garden raid

http://www.chicoer.com/newshome/ci_4322440

Arrests of suspects followed by pot garden raid
By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer

ELK CREEK -- Seven men were arrested Saturday when Glenn County deputies spotted them leaving a wilderness area in the Mendocino National Forest where a marijuana grow site was under surveillance.
They were seen getting into a Chevrolet Tahoe on Forest Road 7 and were followed by officers to the intersection of Highway 162 and County Road 306, where a high-risk stop was made on the vehicle.

One man in the Tahoe, identified as San Jose resident Francisco Caballero Valencia, 28, attempted to reach under a rear seat in the vehicle and refused demands to keep his hands where officers could see them.

When Valencia was pulled from the vehicle, a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic handgun was found under his leg. The weapon was reportedly stolen from Sacramento.

Six of the suspects were identified as Mexican citizens currently living in either Washington or Oregon. They range in age from 19 to 30 and were booked into the Glenn County Jail in Willows on multiple charges.

A search of the vehicle turned up nearly 37 pounds of processed marijuana with a potential street value of $145,000.

Deputies, U.S. Forest Service personnel and members of the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting raided the garden, northwest of Elk Creek and below Alder Springs, Monday morning.

Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said 1,566 smaller but very healthy plants were eradicated from the illegal grow. He said the seven suspects arrested Monday were likely on their way to sell the processed pot, and probably weren't aware that officers had been watching the garden.


Staff writer Greg Welter can be reached at 896-7768 or gwelter@chicoer.com.

Mexicans are often used to grow marijuana or cook meth according to the National Drug Threat Assessment publication which can also be found on line under ONDCP. In California they show up for a few months and cook meth in mega labs and leave. They make their money, don"t know what the toxic chemicals do to their bodies and the lab owners don't have to worry about getting caught.

Just heard on our regional news that several pot farms were busted today within 5 miles of my home. I understand Lou Dobbs will do a story on this tomorrow.

Here are a few within the last week in So. Oregon. The one in the Applegate area in Jackson County is where I used to swim as a kid. And then my kids. Those days are over for everyone, well except the illegal aliens.



Follow-up on Marijuana Grow Seizures
September 11, 2006 - 10:12AM
It started with five marijuana grow sites discovered in the mountains near Cantrall-Buckley Park on Friday, but over the weekend the Jackson County Sheriff's Office says it's found more than 20 grow sites.

The cleanup will span several days, and many hazards remain in the woods.

By Sunday night, crews had pulled 24,000 marijuana plants from a mountainside near Applegate. Police estimate that all the plants together weigh more than 33,000 pounds and are worth more than $120 million on the street.

Now that many marijuana grows have been cleared, crews still have to deal with the mess left behind, such as the many damaged and cut trees, as well as a lot of trash.

Piles of food, bottles, clothing and plastic tarps litter more than a half dozen sites around the marijuana grows, but one of the biggest hazards may come from the from the camp's former inhabitants.

Patrol Captain Lee Fox of the U.S. Forest Service said that many of these illegal growers are armed and actively protecting their crops. He added that police have been shot at by people guarding illegal grow sites and as a result have also had to shoot back and even kill some of them.

Moments after this interview was taped, a photographer discovered a man in the woods secretly watching reporters and law enforcement officials. When he was detected, he fled into the woods.

Sheriff's deputies were dropped into the site by helicopter to search for the man. A group of reporters and photographers traveling with the Sheriff's Department were evacuated in case a gunfight broke out.

For the next several days, it appears the usually quiet hillsides near Cantrall-Buckley Park will continue to buzz with activity.

Authorities warn that if anyone comes across an area that looks suspicious, they should leave immediately and notify the police.




NEWS 10 NOW

http://www.ktvl.com/engine.pl?station=k ... twork.html


Marijuana Gardens Found Near Local Park
September 10, 2006 - 12:26AM
Southern Oregon's biggest pot bust of the year grows as crews find more marijuana plants near Applegate. Search crews say they've found 5 new sites with marijuana plants near Cantrall-Buckley Park.

Sheriff's deputies believe a Mexican drug cartel may be to blame.

As of Friday, up to $250 million of pot plants and 10 marijuana gardens were found. There were between 30,000 and 50,000 plants.

This is one of 3 huge marijuana busts in Jackson County in recent weeks.