RAID LEADS TO MORE THAN 8,000 MARIJUANA PLANTS

Madera County Sheriff John Anderson, with 25 agents from Madnet (Madera
County Drug Enforcement Team), the U.S. Forest Service, Camp and Team Wolf,
raided three gardens and ripped out 8,157 marijuana plants, worth more than
$24 million on Tuesday, Aug. 17. Areas hit included South Forks Bluffs,
located in North Fork, and Nelder Creek. Two such gardens were located off
Sky Ranch Road, just above Bass Lake. There were two distinct gardens --
one having a 40-degree slope, on which 4,000 plants alone were found
growing in about a quarter-mile radius. In June, Madnet began surveillance
in the Mountain Area and focused on the growers for as long as they could
before they finally had to move in. "It's a waiting game," said Sheriff
Anderson, who added, "If you act too quickly, you give them time to plant
again. But if you wait too long, they win." Law enforcement won the prize,
surpassing last year's eradication figure of 13,963. Along with the
thousands of plants found growing in some of the top areas to fish and
hike, agents also found the remains of a camp site, including trash pits 10
feet deep, where waste and garbage had been tossed for possibly at least
the last three months. Because of fire dangers and air quality issues, the
entire marijuana crop was transported to an undisclosed site and buried.
This eradication marks Madnet's third raid this year. There weeks ago, an
almond orchard was the site, where agents found more than 4,000 plants.

Madnet's success rate, year to date In May, agents seized 3,460 plants
growing near Miami Creek located off Bissett Station Road [620]. Later that
night they raided a home in Raymond, where they found more than two pounds
of processed marijuana, including hashish, and two scales. The value of the
processed pot totaled $6,000. The tab was added to the $1.5 million of
marijuana located earlier that day. Two people were arrested.

Number of plants eradicated by year In 2001, 3008 plants; in 2002, 13,683
plants; in 2003, 13,963 plants. So far in 2004, 16,115 plants have been
eradicated. Once again, Sheriff Anderson credited Madera County's drug task
force agents and agents from the U.S. Forest Service for their tireless
efforts. He also praised vigilant citizens, who have continued to phone in
tips when they notice suspicious activity. Although no arrests were made in
Tuesday's raid, agents celebrated the find and called it a great success.
"What makes their work so worthwhile," Sheriff Anderson said, "is knowing
that the growers spent months tearing up this land, hoping to score a big
harvest, and wound up with nothing."