OFFICIALS BUST MARIJUANA PLOTS

Law enforcement officials raided two groves of marijuana plants in Sequoia
National Forest Wednesday to make the biggest marijuana seizure ever in
Kern County national forests.

A total of 12,145 plants were seized, according to Margie Clack, the
information officer for Greenhorn Ranger District. She said the number of
plants was a record for the forest service areas inside Kern County.

The first grove had five plots with a total of 7,500 plants, she said. The
second had four plots with 4,645 plants. Officials say the cultivation
sites have been under investigation since April.

Clack said the Kern County Sheriff's Department estimates the plants yield
one pound of marijuana each and are thought to be worth $1,000 to $3,000
apiece. No suspects were apprehended Wednesday, but there is an ongoing
investigation in the area which is approximately 10 miles west of Isabella
Lake.

This was the first raid in the Greenhorn District, according to Clack, but
there have been other raids in the forest. Officials seized 84,000 plants
there last year.

"It's a growing problem," Clack said.

She said the Sequoia and Sierra national forests rank No. 5 in the country
for marijuana gardens with Daniel Boone Forest in Kentucky being No. 1.

Fifty law enforcement officials assisted in the raid. Help came from the
Kern County Sheriff's Department, the SWAT team, the Special Enforcement
Division and Support Unit and Kern County narcotics enforcement with two
K-9 dogs.

They also had a helicopter crew from the U.S. Air Force. There also was
support from Sequoia, Sierra and Los Padres national forest officials.

Clack said she was told by officials that October is normal harvesting
season, and the growing techniques used were sophisticated.

Kern County sheriff's officials will destroy what they found, according to
Clack.