Agents seize 11,000 pot plants

Authorities on Tuesday seized and destroyed more than 11,000 marijuana plants from two remote grow sites in western Glenn County.

Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones estimated the potential street value of the illegal farming operation at more than $44 million.

Jones said the seizure “really hurt somebody” by taking a potentially huge bite out of their illicit profits. Jones said the grow operation was consistent with methods used by a Mexican  drug cartel.

Campsites were discovered attached to both secret gardens, littered with food trash and chemicals, but no arrests were made, Jones said. Catching guards and growers who live and work at remote campsite for months at a time can be challenging, Jones acknowledged.

“They plan multiple escape routes and have lookouts that give them time to escape on foot,” Jones said, “and they have a tremendously vast area to hide in.”

The raid was conducted by the sheriff’s Marijuana Eradication Team and agents from the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting.

Jones said it was “highly probable” that authorities will encounter more illegal grows on public lands throughout the summer. As harvest season approaches, Jones said marijuana growers likely will defend their operations more aggressively.

“At times these are very dangerous people,” Jones said. “They don’t get paid unless they get their product to the market.”

Jones cautioned campers and hikers to be aware of potential grow sites in remote portions of the Mendocino National Forest.

“People should report any unusual activity,” Jones said, “such as coming across black plastic pipes in the ground near water sources and people and vehicles that look out of place in the area.”