NEARLY 70,000 MARIJUANA PLANTS FOUND IN NATIONAL FOREST

Federal, state and local law enforcement seized almost 70,000
marijuana plants this week from two areas of Los Padres National
Forest in Kern and Ventura counties.

On Monday, an estimated 54,000 marijuana plants were removed from
several plots along Santiago Creek off Cerro Noroeste Road in Kern
County, Forest Service spokesmen said. About 40 officers from the
Forest Service, Kern County Sheriff's Department and other agencies
participated in seizing the plants.

The officers found several campsites, extensive irrigation systems,
fertilizer, trash, propane tanks and other items in the area,
spokesmen said. Large areas of native shrubs and trees had been cut
down to make room for the pot.

The marijuana was removed and will be destroyed. No arrests were made
and the investigation was ongoing.

On Tuesday, officers removed more than 14,000 pot plants from plots in
the Gold Hill area of the forest in Ventura County. Again, campsites
and irrigation systems were found and the marijuana was removed so it
can be destroyed.

Two men were found in the Gold Hill area where the marijuana was
growing last week and they were being held in Ventura County,
spokesmen said.