The Influence Of Mexican Drug Cartels In Humboldt County

[420]

Over the past 10 months, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department has eradicated a record number of marijuana plants throughout the county. That's nothing new.

What is new is where the pot is being grown and who is growing it.

Deputy Mark Peterson, who has worked with the Sheriff Department's Drug Enforcement Unit since 2001, said he's been busy this year.

"I can count on one hand the amount of grows we came across that were linked to DTOs ( drug trafficking organizations ) before this year," Peterson said.

But this year that changed.

Of the record number of plants eradicated -- 345,000 so far this year - -- 270,000 are attributed to Mexican drug cartels, Peterson said.

And of the 220 garden sites raided, exactly half have been attributed to Mexican drug cartels.

So how are authorities able to link the grows to criminal organizations outside of the country?

"It's not like it's so clean cut where there's a big sign in the garden saying this marijuana is being grown for a cartel," Peterson said.

He said it's a combination of factors -- the level of sophistication, the amount of plants and the kinds of supplies that are used.

Nearly every grow labeled by the Sheriff's Department as being linked to a drug cartel is grown on either public land or land belonging to lumber companies. And, the locations are well off the beaten path, in the most remote areas.

"They're doing their homework and doing their research," Peterson said.

Every once in a while evidence with a name on it is found and those names are entered into state and federal law enforcement data bases.

"When the names are run, they have ties to those ( cartels ) organizations," Peterson said.

Usually no one is around the grows by the time law enforcement arrives.

Peterson said seven people arrested this year were found to be in the country illegally.

Earlier this month a deputy shot and killed Eloy Infante-Toscano, 40, after he raised a shotgun at the deputy who was checking out a grow on Pacific Lumber Company land.

The deputy's actions were determined to justified after an initial investigation.

Infante-Toscano had no ties to the area and his parents live in Mexico.

Peterson also said that about 20 firearms have been found and confiscated at the cartel grows.

With harvest season in full swing, the busts and eradications will likely taper off, but before too long it'll be time to prepare for next season.

"This is the first year I've seen it like this," Peterson said.

Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc.
Contact: letters@times-standard.com
Website: http://www.times-standard.com/

[FreakNature]

I guess people from the States don't have the intelligence or sophistication to grow off the beaten path.

[chronicreform]

Originally Posted by 420

Over the past 10 months, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department has eradicated a record number of marijuana plants throughout the county. That's nothing new.

What is new is where the pot is being grown and who is growing it.

Deputy Mark Peterson, who has worked with the Sheriff Department's Drug Enforcement Unit since 2001, said he's been busy this year.

"I can count on one hand the amount of grows we came across that were linked to DTOs ( drug trafficking organizations ) before this year," Peterson said.

But this year that changed.

Of the record number of plants eradicated -- 345,000 so far this year - -- 270,000 are attributed to Mexican drug cartels, Peterson said.

And of the 220 garden sites raided, exactly half have been attributed to Mexican drug cartels.

So how are authorities able to link the grows to criminal organizations outside of the country?

"It's not like it's so clean cut where there's a big sign in the garden saying this marijuana is being grown for a cartel," Peterson said.

He said it's a combination of factors -- the level of sophistication, the amount of plants and the kinds of supplies that are used.

Nearly every grow labeled by the Sheriff's Department as being linked to a drug cartel is grown on either public land or land belonging to lumber companies. And, the locations are well off the beaten path, in the most remote areas.

"They're doing their homework and doing their research," Peterson said.

Every once in a while evidence with a name on it is found and those names are entered into state and federal law enforcement data bases.

"When the names are run, they have ties to those ( cartels ) organizations," Peterson said.

Usually no one is around the grows by the time law enforcement arrives.

Peterson said seven people arrested this year were found to be in the country illegally.

Earlier this month a deputy shot and killed Eloy Infante-Toscano, 40, after he raised a shotgun at the deputy who was checking out a grow on Pacific Lumber Company land.

The deputy's actions were determined to justified after an initial investigation.

Infante-Toscano had no ties to the area and his parents live in Mexico.

Peterson also said that about 20 firearms have been found and confiscated at the cartel grows.

With harvest season in full swing, the busts and eradications will likely taper off, but before too long it'll be time to prepare for next season.

"This is the first year I've seen it like this," Peterson said.

Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc.
Contact: letters@times-standard.com
Website: Times-Standard Online - Home

This is a case where Homeland Security went wrong...Now,as a resident of Humboldt County, I have foreign Nationals producing something the Feds classify as controlled substance??WHY??? The borders to Canada/Mexico are tight due to the increased National Security. As a result,you won't see B.C.beasters or Mexican weed being imported.The result is Foriegn Nationals living in our forrest because it's easier to grow it here,and I fear they've put heat on every "MOM and POP" operation in the County.These are usually armed camps,and at least one dead so far!!!! This is the factual result of Homeland security,close the borders+endanger the citizens.I don't have an answer,just awareness of the results.