Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008

Large plots of pot destroyed near Groveland

Authorities seized and destroyed more than 10,000 marijuana plants from outdoor growing operations Thursday and Friday in Tuolumne County.

No suspects were found at the locations, and no arrests were made, according to the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department. Officials from the Tuolumne Narcotics Team, the state Department of Justice's Campaign Against Marijuana Planting and the U.S. Forest Service discovered the plants.

Thursday's seizures occurred at two growing operations near Groveland, where narcotics investigators seized 7,457 plants. Both plots of pot were near Sawmill Mountain, according to sheriff's officials.

Investigators removed more than 4,000 plants from the Soldier Creek area. About 3,500 plants were removed from the Cherry Creek area. Friday's seizure occurred in the Lily Creek area near Strawberry, where narcotics investigators seized 3,383 marijuana plants. The plants ranged from 4 to 6 feet in height.

According to sheriff's officials, the growers cut down more than 200 trees in an area of about three acres, in order for the marijuana plants to receive more sunlight and have a larger growing area. Authorities have seized and destroyed 104,780 marijuana plants in Tuolumne County this year.