Download the AOL News Toolbar
Our new toolbar integrates latest news into your Web browser and installs in seconds. Download it now!
Send Us Feedback
News Video

Find, view and share videos about news and entertainment from around the Web.
See Videos »

News Alerts

The latest updates sent straight to your inbox.

Get AOL News Alerts »

$1 Billion in Marijuana Plants Seized

By NICK VALENCIA
,
CNN
posted: 6 HOURS 22 MINUTES AGO
comments: 1006
Text SizeAAA
(July 23) -- Authorities have seized $1 billion worth of marijuana plants and have arrested 82 Mexican nationals with ties to drug cartels in the first week and half of an effort to eradicate marijuana fields from California's Fresno County, the county sheriff's office said Wednesday.
Operation Save Our Sierra began July 13 and involves local, state and federal agencies working together to remove marijuana growing operations, investigate and arrest drug traffickers, and remove infrastructure on public lands in Fresno County, a news release said.
Skip over this content
Marijuana plant
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Drug enforcement officials in Fresno, Calif., seized $1 billion worth of marijuana plants and arrested 82 Mexican nationals as part of a large-scale effort to eliminate marijuana farming in the county.

Skip over this content


"This is a high-intensity drug trafficking area," U.S. Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske said in a phone interview. "I think what should be highlighted here is the local authorities' work to reclaim the land from the drug traffickers."
The 82 suspects arrested so far have links to Mexican drug cartels, local authorities said, though they did not release further details.
Eastern Fresno County, where the seizures have been made, is mountainous and sparsely populated. Growers exploit the area's streams, rivers and lakes to create elaborate drip lines for their plants. A mature plant can be worth $4,000, said Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims.
"Fresno County is roughly the size of Connecticut, and the drug traffickers target these areas because they know there is not that significant of a law-enforcement presence," Mims said. "The chances of getting caught are slim."
"The bottom line is our public lands are being destroyed by foreign drug trafficking and heavily armed Mexican cartels," George Anderson of the U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday at a news conference highlighting the seizures.
Skip over this content
The operation is the largest in Fresno County history and one of the largest in California, Mims said.
"What makes this operation unique is the approach: prevention, enforcement, eradication and reclamation," she said.
Intelligence gathered for the operation began in February, with community presentations about prevention. The effort is now focused on shutting down the at least 70 marijuana farms identified by local authorities.
The operation is expected to continue into November, when colder weather makes marijuana growing more difficult.
At least 330,000 marijuana plants have been seized, Mims said.
"This shows what can be accomplished at the local level when agencies work together," Kerlikowske said.
Kerlikowske, who flew to Fresno County on Wednesday and toured a marijuana farm, said his office is one of the primary sponsors of the operation.
Skip over this content
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=587877&pid=587876&uts=1248360441
http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf
Should Marijuana Be Legal?
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said May 5 that "it's time for a debate" on whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use. A poll conducted in the spring said 56 percent of state voters support the idea of making pot legal for adults and taxing the proceeds. Schwarzenegger doesn't support legalization, but he said the matter should be studied before any steps are taken.
Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images
Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images
© 2009 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
2009-07-23 10:54:44
GOOD READ?
103 votes

Related Articles

  1. See More Related Articles and Blog Posts
(1006)
Sort by:

1 - 10

Calcontractor10

06:36 PMJul 23 2009

A billion dollars in POT ? Who is going to buy a billion dollars worth of pot ? One person could not smoke all that pot, Anyone know how many pot smokers there are in the united states?

AVG RATING:
(0)

Babyblues1019

06:36 PMJul 23 2009

RTippeYour a fed humper ! Let us all be like you, then we have nothing to complain about. Everything would be just fine and dandy. Because none us would do no wrong. We would be perfect.

AVG RATING:
(0)

Highrise408

06:36 PMJul 23 2009

Dont forget, every person that is living on this planet right now, will be dead in approx. 100 years, so all the shit that you talk, doesn't really matter unless you are willing to build something for the next generation to follow. Otherwise, its just something you say to feel good at the moment, but holds no ground later if its not backed up.

AVG RATING:
(0)

Mgrauman

06:35 PMJul 23 2009

Hey AHH-NALD, don't worry about all the illegal aliens invading your state, just sit back, roll yourself a fat one and relax by watching all the cool things you have done in the movies. You have done all that a pea-brain can do.

AVG RATING:
(0)

Cranerooster

06:35 PMJul 23 2009

its all about the benjamins $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

AVG RATING:
(0)

Jefftitle46

06:33 PMJul 23 2009

And if the stuff were legal, California would be getting about 360 million dollars in taxes! Then how exactly are we expected to yell horrah, knowing that drug cartels are too powerful to stop, and out of reach of the tax man because of out stupid laws?

AVG RATING:
(0)

HairHoFla

06:32 PMJul 23 2009

jnorbros 06:28 PMJul 23 2009 YOU CAN LIVE ABOUT 50 DAYS WITHOUT EATING, ABOUT A WEEK WITHOUT DRINKING, BUT ONLY ABOUT 3 MINUTES WITHOUT BREATHING. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO MESS WITH THEIR LUNGS?----------------------------There Are Other Ways Of Introducing marijuana Into The Body...Read The Alice's Resturaunt Cookbook

AVG RATING:
(2)

Dougs Decks

06:32 PMJul 23 2009

It is amazing how on tv, all day long, all you see is advertisements for optional medicines,,, drugs that can make you thinner, dick bigger, let your softie get hard, stop your sneezing, etc., etc.,,,, all with side efects from stroke and parylisis, fainting, liver damage,, or even my favorite,, anal seepage,,,, yet a drug that lets you be happy and giggle, round out the sharp corners a little,, with a side effect of excessive munchie consumption,, has to be illegal with possibly over a million people incarserated for it,,,,

AVG RATING:
(3)

BROOKFIELD1972

06:31 PMJul 23 2009

Nancy Pelosi can use the revenue to back Obama Care Health Plan. You may have to pay more tax's for her plan but you will be to stoned to notice the rise in cost..

AVG RATING:
(0)

Rabart5319

06:31 PMJul 23 2009

As a senior I have always said, that if I seen people using or selling narcotics I couldn't run fast enough to turn them in period. I have less compassion for addicts also.

AVG RATING:
(1)

1 - 10 of 1006

{ JOIN the CONVERSATION }

YOU'LL BE ASKED TO REGISTER OR LOGIN BEFORE POSTING A COMMENT.

News Makers

NewsmakersHe's been dead since 1791, but new works by Mozart are still surfacing.1 of 6

News Makers

All Good News, All The Time

GNN


* Want the latest Hot Seat polls delivered to your Vista desktop? Hot Seat Vista Gadget »

Politics Daily

Sports

Money

Technology

Health

Entertainment

Authorities have seized $1 billion worth of marijuana plants and have arrested 82 Mexican nationals with ties to drug cartels in the first week and half of an effort to eradicate marijuana fields from California\'s Fresno County, the county sheriff\'s office said Wednesday.