MARIJUANA PLANTS WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DESTROYED

Local law enforcement officials remained busy midweek, finding and
destroying millions of dollars worth of marijuana plants.

Detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff's Department's Tactical
Enforcement Personnel, Campaign Against Marijuana Production and the U.S.
Forest Service began Tuesday conducting a two-day operation clearing two
separate marijuana gardens in the foothills above California Hot Springs,
the Sheriff's Department reports.

The first garden was on Rube Creek and had a plant count of 6,414 mature
plants. The second garden was on Cold Springs Creek and had a mature plant
count of 12,012. Authorities report the plants seized from both sites would
be worth $74 million had they made their way to the streets.

The marijuana was taken away and destroyed.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a juvenile was arrested Wednesday on
suspicion of cultivating marijuana.

Sheriff's Department deputies report responding to 14976 Avenue 84, in
Pixley, regarding a burglary investigation. During the investigation,
deputies reportedly noticed a large marijuana plant growing in the back
yard of the residence.

A Hispanic male juvenile reportedly claimed responsibility for the plant
and said he had been caring for it. He was arrested and booked at the
Juvenile Detention Facility. The case remained under investigation Thursday.

The most recent finds adds to the take this marijuana growing season.

Earlier this month, the National Park Service seized 18,926 marijuana
plants growing in the wilderness of Sequoia National Park in the east fork
drainage of the Kaweah River. Alexandra Picavet of the National Park
Service said the plants were nearing maturity and, had they fully matured,
would have boasted a street value of $75 million.

Last week, another garden of 3,557 mature marijuana plants was removed near
the Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park along Upper Dry Creek above Eshom
Campground. The estimated street value of the crop was $14.2 million.

A marijuana garden with an estimated value of $22 million was found in the
mountains northeast of Springville, the Tulare County Sheriff's Department
reported earlier this week. The 5,503 marijuana plants were found along the
Pine Creek drainage.