Thread: CA-Mexican national arrested in pot bust near Mount Hamilton

Mexican national arrested in pot bust near Mount Hamilton
By Gideon Rubin
The Daily Review
Article Launched: 08/13/2008 06:41:02 PM PDT


McGLINCHEY SPRINGS — Operating on tips from a deer hunter and a private citizen, Alameda County and Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies raided a massive outdoor marijuana farm Tuesday, eradicating what's thought to be an Alameda County-record 7,000 plants, estimated to be worth $20 million, and arresting one of two suspected growers, authorities said.

Deputies found two marijuana gardens on private property in McGlinchey Springs amid rugged terrain covering about 40,000 square feet stretched across the Alameda County's southern border into part of Santa Clara County in the shadow of Mount Hamilton, Alameda County sheriff's Sgt. Shawn Peterson said.

Eziquiel Sandoval, 30, of Mexico, was arrested on multiple felony counts, Peterson said. His immigration status was not immediately known. A second suspect, about 5-foot-5 and weighing about 135 pounds, escaped through some brush, the sergeant said.

The growers clear-cut old-growth forest and pine trees and treated the area around the plants with animal poisons that will eventually run off into pristine creeks that feed into Lake Del Valle in Livermore — a "major (Environmental Protection Agency) foul," Peterson said. The garden was irrigated with water siphoned from a ranch three-quarters of a mile away, according to deputies.

Sandoval was found in possession of a loaded Glock 19 semiautomatic handgun and additional ammunition, Peterson said. He was arrested for cultivating

marijuana, possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, Peterson said, and taken to Santa Clara County Jail.

"Deer hunters, cattle ranchers or private land owners hiking on these properties coming across an armed man growing several thousand plants could be a dangerous situation," Peterson said.

Deputies found propane tanks, clothing, and food supplies in makeshift shelters the accused growers were apparently living in for several months, Peterson said. Their encampment was some seven or so miles from the nearest paved road at an elevation Peterson estimated to be about 3,000 feet.

Mountain lions, deer and wild pigs were spotted in the area, he said.

"It was like we were in the wilderness," Peterson said. "It's not something you'd expect to see that close to a metropolitan area."


http://www.mercurynews.com/crime/ci_10194336

This is getting ridiculous. Clear cutting and poisoning our country should be added to all the other charges. Unfortunately, we will probably have to give all these guys a comfy life in an air-conditioned prison at taxpayers' expense, and then deport them so they can be back here in a few minutes setting up operations at another location.

This lake (Lake Del Valle) attracts many people who like to swim, picnic, fish and boat and this will create a new danger for them down the road. To say this article makes me angry is an understatement. I live in Alameda County and there have been a few other huge pot farm busts here - so this is happening everywhere and not just in national parks. Each time the growers were pulling water from creeks and/or nearby streams and contaminating the area with chemicals. I used to wonder why so many helicopters and small planes fly over our area - at least some of 'em were looking for pot farms. Anyway, I take some solace in the fact that ICE and the sheriff's department here usually play well together - so if Sandoval is an illegal alien he'll be treated as such and be held over for deportation after serving time. That's not to say he won't be right back again over our fortress-like border though!