29,518 POT PLANTS SEIZED NEAR LAYTONVILLE

A multi-agency raid on indoor marijuana growing operations near Laytonville
has yielded 29,518 marijuana plants of various ages and 190 pounds of
processed marijuana.

"It's the largest seizure of indoor plants in the history of Mendocino
County," said Sheriff's Capt. Kevin Broin.

Also seized from the Hunts Ranch subdivision were several vehicles, 22
firearms, a large boat, three Harley Davidson motorcycles, and eight, 50
kw-to 250 kw generators.

"They're huge," Broin said of the generators.

The plants were located inside eight buildings, some of which were built to
look like houses from the outside.

Others were covered with camouflage netting, Broin said.

Three people were arrested during the warrant searches.

The bust was part of a three-day, multi-county effort that included agents
from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, IRS, ATF, State Bureau
of Narcotics Enforcement, CHP, the California National Guard as well as the
Mendocino and Humboldt counties sheriff's offices.

Altogether, the two-county operation yielded at least 30,000 plants,
according to DEA spokeswoman Jocelyn Barnes. The totals have yet to be
finalized, she said this morning.

The operation began Tuesday and was winding up Thursday afternoon, Broin said.

It was dubbed "Emerald Triangle."

Nearly 120 law enforcement officers were involved, Broin said.

The raid was the result of months of investigation of operations in
southern Humboldt and northern Mendocino counties.

Altogether, 11 locations were searched, including ones in Redway and
Garberville.

The marijuana operation is believed to be the product of an organization
with distribution facilities in the Northern California area, according to
the DEA.

It's believed to have electronic security systems that monitor its remote
cultivation sites.

The organization reportedly purchased large tracts of land and subdivided
it for its illegal enterprise, according to the DEA.