Shasta County pot raids target illegal grow sites

The Associated Press
Posted: 07/01/2011 04:04:58 PM PDT


REDDING, Calif.—Law enforcement agents have arrested three people and destroyed nearly 83,000 marijuana plants in Shasta County as part of a sweeping crackdown focusing on Mexican nationals at illegal grow sites.

Sheriff's Sgt. Barry Powell says a team of federal, state and local agents went on at least one marijuana bust a day for seven days of operations, starting June 21.

Powell says authorities arrested 26-year-old Sergio Raul Ledesma-Araiza on suspicion of various drug charges and other offenses, including water pollution and entering the country illegally.

A separate raid led to the arrest of 21-year-old Adolfo Rosales-Villa and 27-year-old Heraclio Ramirez-Gomes on suspicion of similar offenses. The men also are suspected of entering the country illegally.

All three suspects are being held without bail in Shasta County jail, the Record Searchlight of Redding reports.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_18394105