California wildlife officers raided two illegal cannabis grow sites in the Bay Area this summer as part of a wider crackdown on environmentally destructive operations tied to criminal organizations, state officials said.
In a statement Tuesday last week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said its Marijuana Enforcement Team dismantled grows in San Mateo County and supported another raid in Santa Cruz County. Operatives reportedly eradicated thousands of cannabis plants hidden in watersheds and sensitive habitats, part of six operations spanning five counties.
Statewide, the raids in July and August uncovered 21,000 plants that would have consumed nearly 9.5 million gallons of water during their growing cycles, the CDFW said. Teams also seized two firearms, destroyed more than 150 pounds of processed cannabis, and removed highly toxic pesticides banned in the U.S.
Eight suspects were reportedly arrested in connection with the operations, which also included sites in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Tehama counties. Felonies reportedly ranged from polluting state waters to resisting arrest. At one site, an armed suspect attempted to flee but was caught by a police K-9.
“Nearby communities and fish and wildlife depend on clean water from these watersheds,” CDFW Director Charlton Bonham said. “When criminals steal or destroy the natural resources that support California’s extraordinary biodiversity, we are committed to stopping them — and we have the teams in place to do that, no matter how far into the wilderness they try to hide their operations.”
State officials said some of the sites were discovered thanks to citizen tips, including one from a hunter scouting for deer.
Reports of illegal cannabis cultivation on public lands can be made to CalTIP at (888) 334-2258.
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