AUTHORITIES ERADICATE OVER 7,000 MARIJUANA PLANTS

Authorities removed approximately 7,250 marijuana plants from the Los
Padres National Forest north of Ojai on Wednesday.

The illegal plants were discovered through aerial reconnaissance
earlier this month in a drainage area stretching from Wheeler Gorge
Campground to Rose Valley, according to Ventura County Sheriff's
Department officials. The eradicated plants had a potential street
value of more than $14 million.

The growers used three makeshift campsites, which were littered with
trash, irrigation pipes, camping equipment and chemical fertilizers,
authorities said, adding that stream deviation, tree and brush
removal and landscape terracing at marijuana growing sites are known
to cause significant environmental damage.

No arrests have been made in connection with the discovery, but
authorities believe those responsible are tied to a drug trafficking
organization.

Two men were arrested after 68,000 marijuana plants were seized in
the forest on July 14 and July 15. Those plants had an estimated
street value of more than $306 million, authorities said.

Department officials are reminding the public of the potential danger
to anyone who might come across an illegal marijuana growing site
accidentally. Sometimes the growers are armed or have booby-trapped
the site, authorities said.

Anyone with information regarding illegal marijuana cultivation can
call local law enforcement or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at
385-TALK or 494-TALK for Thousand Oaks and Moorpark.

Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information
leading to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.