Ecologically Unfriendly Illegal Marijuana Grow Site On Public Lands
SHASTA TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST -At Big Mountain, near the south fork of Big Creek, a marijuana raid occurred on September 5.
Through the combined efforts of the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, US Forest Service, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife CEP Team, as well as K-9 Johnny, the effort was a success.
toxic pesticide
8,656 growing marijuana plants, as well as 232 pounds of processed marijuana, were seized and eradicated.
Johnny helped apprehend 37-year-old Armando Vargas-Garcia. 36-year-old Eduardo Montero-Aleman was apprehended by other officers afterwards.
Charges against the duo include conspiracy, possession of marijuana for sale, obstruct and resist a peace officer, unlawfully divert water, deposit hazardus material in a waterway, unlawful use of a dangerous pesticide and cultivate marijuana causing environmental damage.
On the site a scientist from Integral Ecology Research Center discovered 840 pounds of soluble fertilizer, thousands pounds of trash, and piping that was “diverting thousands of gallons of water per day.”
