Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Human waste was allowed to flow into the river streams. Pesticide containers were left uncapped, allowing whatever was left inside to seep out into the watershed.
Trash was left around, bulking into clusters of garbage.
Electrical generators were placed atop dry grass, increasing the likeliness of a wildfire within remote areas.
Calaveras County Sheriff Rick DiBasilio and Capt. Jim Macedo Thursday described numerous, egregious environmental violations discovered as part of a string of criminal busts earlier this week at 23 illegal marijuana cultivation locations throughout Calaveras County.
In all, during what was called Operation Terminus, representatives throughout five agencies including the California National Guard, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California State Water Resources Control Board assisted in the arrest of 35 suspects, and the eradication of 27,000 marijuana plants and 25 tons of marijuana
"It's the largest bust we've done at this point," DiBasilio said.
Also found at the various sites in Copperopolis, Mountain Ranch, Rail Road Flat and West Point among others, were 11 firearms, many of which had serial numbers scratched out, two sets of body armor and a number of assault rifles. About $7,000 was also located.
Among the detained were many from areas outside Calaveras County. Some came from areas ranging from Sacramento to Santa Rosa to as far away as Staten Island, N.Y. DiBasilio said some busted this week were applicants denied from the county's cultivation program.
Called Operation Terminus for what implied was the termination of operations for illegal cultivators, Macedo said they worked toward "ending the line" for growers that come from various places throughout the state and country to commit crimes against the environment.
Tributaries along the Mokelumne and Stanislaus Rivers that supply water to millions throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley locations were abused. Other environmental infractions included illegal grading, unauthorized water diversions and illegitimate damming of streams, said Clint Snyder, assistant executive officer with the Central Valley Regional Water Control Board.
The multi-agency operation started six months ago. DiBasilio said the physical eradication campaign began Monday and spanned throughout the week. He did not have an estimated value of plants confiscated Thursday.
He said they would have executed a similar crusade last year, but many other agencies did not have the time to dedicate for the investigation. He implied it may not take another six months before the next sequence of eradications.
"There were a lot of sites we chose to look at. Some we weren't able to get to. There are more we'll actively go after," DiBasilio said. "It will be a continual thing."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Authorities seize 27,000 plants and 25 tons in marijuana raids | Calaveras County's Most Trusted News Source | calaverasenterprise.com
Author: Jason Cowan
Contact: Contact | calaverasenterprise.com
Photo Credit: Jason Cowan
Website: calaverasenterprise.com | Calaveras County's Most Trusted News Source
Trash was left around, bulking into clusters of garbage.
Electrical generators were placed atop dry grass, increasing the likeliness of a wildfire within remote areas.
Calaveras County Sheriff Rick DiBasilio and Capt. Jim Macedo Thursday described numerous, egregious environmental violations discovered as part of a string of criminal busts earlier this week at 23 illegal marijuana cultivation locations throughout Calaveras County.
In all, during what was called Operation Terminus, representatives throughout five agencies including the California National Guard, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California State Water Resources Control Board assisted in the arrest of 35 suspects, and the eradication of 27,000 marijuana plants and 25 tons of marijuana
"It's the largest bust we've done at this point," DiBasilio said.
Also found at the various sites in Copperopolis, Mountain Ranch, Rail Road Flat and West Point among others, were 11 firearms, many of which had serial numbers scratched out, two sets of body armor and a number of assault rifles. About $7,000 was also located.
Among the detained were many from areas outside Calaveras County. Some came from areas ranging from Sacramento to Santa Rosa to as far away as Staten Island, N.Y. DiBasilio said some busted this week were applicants denied from the county's cultivation program.
Called Operation Terminus for what implied was the termination of operations for illegal cultivators, Macedo said they worked toward "ending the line" for growers that come from various places throughout the state and country to commit crimes against the environment.
Tributaries along the Mokelumne and Stanislaus Rivers that supply water to millions throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley locations were abused. Other environmental infractions included illegal grading, unauthorized water diversions and illegitimate damming of streams, said Clint Snyder, assistant executive officer with the Central Valley Regional Water Control Board.
The multi-agency operation started six months ago. DiBasilio said the physical eradication campaign began Monday and spanned throughout the week. He did not have an estimated value of plants confiscated Thursday.
He said they would have executed a similar crusade last year, but many other agencies did not have the time to dedicate for the investigation. He implied it may not take another six months before the next sequence of eradications.
"There were a lot of sites we chose to look at. Some we weren't able to get to. There are more we'll actively go after," DiBasilio said. "It will be a continual thing."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Authorities seize 27,000 plants and 25 tons in marijuana raids | Calaveras County's Most Trusted News Source | calaverasenterprise.com
Author: Jason Cowan
Contact: Contact | calaverasenterprise.com
Photo Credit: Jason Cowan
Website: calaverasenterprise.com | Calaveras County's Most Trusted News Source
