AUTHORITIES LOCATE, DESTROY $43 MILLION IN MARIJUANA

Authorities Friday said they found and destroyed what they called the
largest marijuana plantation in San Mateo county history earlier this week.
By Friday, 12,313 plants valued at $43 million had been destroyed. The six-
to eight-foot plants grew on a remote western slope above Crystal Springs
reservoir near the junction of highways 92 and 280.

Twelve agents from local, state and county agencies reached the remote site
by helicopter monday, finding the outlawed plants and a sophisticated
irrigation system. Agents also found deer carcasses and other supplies,
suggesting that armed guards lived there for long periods of time, said
Donald O'Keefe, commander of the San Mateo County Narcotics task force.

O'Keefe said the agency expected to find only about 1,000 plants when it
braved this week's record-setting heat in search of the farm. "This was a
big grow. We had our hands full," O'Keefe said.