Agents destroy 21,000 pot plants in Nevada County

By The Associated Press
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 4:05 p.m.

Drug agents have pulled nearly 21,000 pot plants from the ground during raids on three gardens in California's gold rush country.

Law enforcement teams descended on the gardens in the Tahoe National Forest on Monday and Tuesday. Whey they arrived, Nevada County Sheriff's Lt. Sheriff's Lt. Joe Salivar says agents seized about 21,000 marijuana plants. Several firearms and ammunition were also found.

Some of the marijuana plants were six feet high and budding. Authorities say the harvest had begun, and workers appeared to have been preparing the buds for distribution.

Sleeping and living areas had been set up at the gardens, though the sites had been recently abandoned.

Salivar says the growing operations were spotted from the air about four weeks ago.
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Information from: The Union, http://www.theunion.com

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... da-county/